DARCHINYAN TURNING TO TYSON FOR ROUNDED EDUCATION
Peter Kogoy
The Australian, Australia
Aug. 30, 2006
VIC DARCHINYAN, the "Raging Bull" of the world’s flyweight division,
is turning to Mike Tyson to round off his ringcraft education before
his next title defence in Las Vegas.
The unbeaten Darchinyan, 30, and holder of the IBO and IBF belts, will
spar with former heavyweight world champion Tyson at his American
training base over the next month before tackling Filipino Glenn
Gonzales Donaire on October 7.
The southpaw, who represented his native Armenia at the Sydney
Olympics, is hoping working out with Tyson will increase his already
awesome punching power. Darchinyan’s bout with Donaire at the 50.8kg
limit, will be a co-featured fight on the Showboat-televised card
headlined between lightweight world champion Diego Corrales and
Joel Casamayor.
"Tyson was one of the most explosive punchers in boxing history,"
Darchinyan said.
"I know I’m going over there (to America) to learn.
"I believe Tyson will make a very good teacher, working alongside
Jeff Fenech and Billy Hussein.
"My own punching power is very good, but I want to make it even
stronger, that’s why both Jeff and Billy believe that Tyson will be
a big help."
Darchinyan, the winner of two world titles in his career, boasts a
perfect unbeaten record of 30 wins, 21 by knockout.
The Sydney-based fighter turned to Donaire after undefeated WBO
champion Omar Narvaez of Argentina declined a unification bout of
the flyweight ranks.
"If Narvaez doesn’t want to fight me, I can’t force him," Darchinyan
said. "He is running scared.
"He doesn’t want to lose his world title to me.
"But I know Donaire will enter the ring wanting to fight me.
"I’ve watched him on film this week. He is a hard puncher, his right
uppercut is probably his best punch.
"I’m going back to America to show that I am a worthy champion and
to keep my record in one piece. I’m going back over to show that they
will see that I am the best flyweight."
Donaire, 26, boasts an overall record of 16 wins, two draws and one
loss. He’s also won won three out of the past four times he’s stepped
into the ring.
Darchinyan’s co-trainer Hussein is expecting a much tougher test
of Darchinyan’s ringcraft compared to his past two fights against
Diosdado Gabi in March and Luis Maldonado in June this year.
Both fights finished to the good of Darchinyan and were stopped well
inside the distance.
"I have no doubt Donaire will be a tougher opponent than either Gabi
or Maldonado," Hussein said. "He saw Vic beat up his mate Gabi and
asked for a shot at him.
"He’s dangerous and I know he will come to fight on the night."
When asked why Darchinyan is forced to go overseas to fight, Hussein
said: "He wants to fight here, but unfortunately there isn’t a promoter
in this country prepared to take a chance with Vic.
"The last couple of times he has fought here (in Australia) we didn’t
get a big crowd and financially it was difficult.
"But he’s making a big name for himself in America and that’s where
he’s got to go."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
