FOX SPORTS, Australia
Aug 24 2005
Warning for world champ
By Grantlee Kieza
August 24, 2005
AUSSIE Olympian Hussein Hussein has sparred more rounds with world
champ Vic Darchinyan than any other boxer and says discretion will be
the better part of valour in tonight’s title fight at the
Entertainment Centre.
Darchinyan defends his IBF flyweight crown against Colombia’s pocket
rocket Jair Jimenez and Hussein says his great mate will have to be
careful in the early rounds.
“Jimenez is a dangerous guy,” Hussein said. “He’s a solid puncher and
he throws combinations non-stop.
“Vic is incredibly confident ahead of all his bouts but I’m telling
him not to get careless.
“I just watched Jimenez on tape losing a points decision to a Mexican
named Gerson Guererro and Jimenez had the guy out on his feet in the
opening round. On his night Jimenez can beat anyone in the world.”
Darchinyan, who represented Armenia at the Sydney Olympics, has a
perfect professional record of 23-0, with 18 KOs. Jimenez, a huge
underdog, is 22-4-1, with 16 wins inside the distance.
His trainer Roberto Quesada has coached 11 world champs from his base
in Miami, including Edwin Rosario, Wilfredo Vasquez and Carlos
Maussa, and is confident of making it an even dozen tonight.
“We expect to win,” Quesada said. “Darchinyan is a good world champ
and he beat a good fighter from Colombia, Irene Pacheco, for the
championship.
“We give Darchinyan full respect but Jimenez is a better boxer and
will surprise a lot of people in Australia.”
Hussein, for a long time the WBC’s top-ranked flyweight, faces the
most important moment of his career in Las Vegas on October 8 when he
battles Mexican hero Jorge Arce before an estimated crowd of 15,000.
The pair battled through 10 torturous rounds in Vegas in March with
Arce recovering from an early pounding to take the title by TKO.
“I know what it takes to beat Arce,” Hussein said. “Sparring Vic is
the perfect preparation and if I listen to my corner I can win the
WBC interim title on October 8.”
Hussein’s brother, Nedal “Skinny” Hussein, a world-ranked
super-bantamweight, faces tough Queenslander Mick Shaw at the Auburn
RSL on Friday night.
TV: Darchinyan v Jimenez, Sky Channel, Main Event 7.30pm. TAB
Sportsbet: Darchinyan $1.10, Jimenez $6