The Courier Mail (Australia)
September 29, 2006 Friday
First with the news Edition
Darchinyan’s power trip doesn’t faze Filipino foe in Vegas battle
by Grantlee Kieza
AUSTRALIA’S world flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan has challenged
his hard-hitting opponent Glenn Donaire to stand and trade power
shots with him when they slug it out in Las Vegas next week.
At a heated press conference in Los Angeles yesterday ahead of their
big battle, Donaire, a California-based Filipino, said he was not
intimidated by Darchinyan’s reputation as one of the best punchers in
world boxing.
The unbeaten Armenian-born champion from Sydney has won all five of
his world title fights by knockout and says it will be no different
when he faces Donaire at the Mandalay Bay Casino on Sunday week.
But Donaire fired up Darchinyan yesterday with dismissive comments
about the IBF champion’s lack of technique.
”Darchinyan does not have a style,” said the 26-year-old Filipino
who has 16 wins and a draw from 19 pro fights.
”He waits for the lucky punch with his left hand. He can be strong,
but I will beat him. His past opponents have been intimidated by him.
Not me.”
But Darchinyan, 30, who defends his world title on the same night
that Gold Coast fighter Paul Briggs faces world light-heavyweight
champ Tomasz Adamek in Chicago, says Donaire is in for a shock.
”I have been sparring guys 12kg heavier than me in Los Angeles and I
will knock this guy out, too,” said Darchinyan, who has won all 26
of his fights (21 by KO) since turning professional after the Sydney
Olympics.
Meanwhile, Briggs, who leaves for Chicago with trainer Johnny Lewis
today, says sparring with Melbourne’s Sam Soliman has been the key to
his preparation for revenge against the lanky Pole. Adamek outpointed
him for the world title in Chicago last year.