OLD MENTOR BACK IN VIC’S CORNER
The Australian, Australia
Feb 21 2007
AUSTRALIA’S dual flyweight boxing world champion Vic Darchinyan will
have his old mentor in his corner for the first time in eight years
next month, when he plans to knock Mexican Victor Burgos out cold in
Los Angeles.
Sydney-based IBF and IBO champion Darchinyan, 31, today left Australia
to prepare for his March 4 engagement with Mexico’s former IBF light
flyweight champion.
Burgos, 32, who has a record of 39 wins (23 KOs) 14 losses and three
draws is the highest ranked IBF contender for Darchinyan’s sixth
defence of the title he won back in December 2004.
Armenian-born Darchinyan whose professional log stands at 27-0 (21
KOs) will also be making the fifth defence of the IBO crown he won
in March 2005.
In addition to regular trainer Billy Hussein, Darchinyan will also
have in his corner his old coach from Armenia, Vazgen Batalyda.
Batalyda worked with Darchinyan for 18 years, but hasn’t been in his
corner since 1999 world amateur championship in Huston.
"It’s very hard for him because he works in a big job, but I called
him and told him I wanted him to be there," Darchinyan said.
"I’m very happy he’s going to be in my corner."
After delivering on his promise to dismantle his previous challenger
Glenn Donaire with his supposedly weaker right hand, Darchinyan said
he intended to punish Burgos with his left and predicted a quick
knock out.
"I’m going to knock him out with my left, with a power shot,"
Darchinyan said.
"I don’t want to just drop him and he gets up, I want to knock him
out cold."
He said he had been working on his fitness and speed in the lead up
to next month’s contest.
"I know this guy is very fast, he’s busy in a round," Darchinyan
said of Burgos, who lost just one of his last 12 fights over the past
seven years.
"I’ve seen him fight, he throws a lot of punches in each round,
but he’s never fought someone like me."
Although he has already sparred about 145 rounds, Darchinyan said he
planned to have two or three more sessions in America.
He remained disappointed the fight was still not scheduled to be
shown live by any of the usual Australian television providers.
"I’m very embarrassed about the decision that they don’t want to show
my fight live, I am fighting the leading contender, they should show
my fight," Darchinyan said.
"People can’t support me because they are not going to see my fight."
He expected plenty of support from the large Armenian community in
California and also expected to win Mexican fight fans over with his
exciting style.
The fight is likely to be his last at flyweight, with Darchinyan eyeing
a move up to super flyweight, the division in which his primary target,
Jorge Arce currently resides.