Fox sports, Australia
July 21 2005
Slide-show curtain-raiser
By Grantlee Kieza
July 21, 2005
VIC Darchinyan is determined to put on a real show in his world title
fight next week and almost broke his ankle with some impromptu
theatrics to highlight his enthusiasm yesterday.
Darchinyan was beating the drum for his second defence of the IBF
flyweight title against Colombian Jair Jimenez when he decided to
display his freakish strength with a gymnastics move on a chin-up bar
at the Thump Gym in Five Dock.
Much to the chagrin of his trainer Jeff Fenech, Darchinyan made a
leap for the bar off some rubber mats, slipped and needed all the
balance he’s learned from 160 fights not to hit the deck harder than
most of his opponents.
Darchinyan, who represented Armenia at the Sydney Olympics and hopes
to unify the world titles in his division in the same manner as
Kostya Tszyu, another migrant made good, is doing his best to build a
support base of fans.
And while he has been watching his diet like a Slimmer of the Year,
he hopes a big crowd will dine out in Chinatown before he makes a
meal of Jimenez.
His manager Robert Joske, who guides the careers of other sports
stars such as Steve Waugh and Justin Langer, says the timing of
Darchinyan’s bout at the Entertainment Centre on a Wednesday night
was designed to draw the maximum amount of support from corporate
Sydney.
“Boxing is a sport that is growing in popularity all the time,” Joske
said.
“Vic is a tremendous talent and a very likeable young man and we are
hoping a lot of business people will come down to the Entertainment
Centre after work to have dinner and see a great Australian world
champion defend his title in what promises to be a thrilling bout.”
Jimenez comes to Australia with a reputation as a dangerous puncher
and Fenech says Darchinyan is desperate to impress fans with a
spectacular win.
“It’s a lot easier to lose a world title than win one,” Fenech said.
“And Vic knows Jimenez is a heavy hitter with a big heart who can
stay with him.
“Vic had some anxious moments in his last fight [against South
African Mzukisi Sikali] and he wants to put on a show this time to
wow the fans.”
Jimenez will arrive in Sydney on Sunday and Darchinyan says he is
wary of the Colombian’s pet punch.
“He has very good uppercuts; I saw one fight where he knocked a guy
out from an uppercut,” Darchinyan said.
The undercard features three of Australia’s most promising young
guns, junior-lightweights Billy Dib and Ahmed Elomar and Russian
junior-middleweight Anton Solopov, a former world amateur champion,
who is managed by Kostya Tszyu.
TV: Sky Channel, Main Event, Wednesday 7.30pm
TAB Sportsbetting: Darchinyan $1.15, Jimenez $4.75