Darchinyan Has Big Plans That Include Nonito Donaire

Posted by Igor Frank on 03.16.2009

Igor Frank reports on top ten pound for pound newest entrant, Vic “The Raging Bull” Darchinyan and his future plans after their telephone interview from Australia.


The Raging Bull hasn't forgotten about Donaire

The only blemish on the record of current unified super flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan is a knockout loss to Nonito Donaire which took place in July of 2007. Strange as it may seem, this memorable bout did more good to the career of Vic than it did to Nonito. Since then Darchinyan has refocused and rededicated himself to the sport, hired a new trainer from the old country that he knew since he was eight ears old and registered one spectacular performance after another thus by earning a spot on a mystical pound for pound list, while Donaire, even though considered a great fighter by experts struggles to secure meaningful fights. Feeling underappreciated, Nonito broke ties with Gary Shaw, who is still very sore about it, and signed with a hall of fame promoter Bob Arum. But even the best promoter in the world seems to have trouble getting match ups for Donaire. Think about it; tall, extremely fast with his hands and feet, Flash is a handful for any body. Who would want to fight this guy?

"I would love to fight him," proclaimed Darchinyan on the phone from his house in Sydney:" And I think this fight is going to happen. When I come up to bantamweight and win a title and Nonito come up to bantamweight and win a title, this fight is going to happen. If he thinks he really beat me, let him come up, win one title and I will show everyone that what happened in the past was a mistake from me. I will talk to Gary Shaw and he will make a fight with Donaire. What I want in the future is to fight Nonito Donaire and Gary Shaw knows that." This could be a rematch to remember and Vic will force Gary Shaw to put that bout together despite the fact that Gary feels like he was betrayed by Donaire, especially if the money is right. So stay tuned as this appetizing match up is being baked in the oven.

Meanwhile, the Armenian/Australian destroyer is moving up to bantamweight to challenge for the IBF title that currently belongs to an African "King Kong" Joseph Agbeko. Agbeko knocked out then undefeated champion Luis Alberto Perez to earn this title in 2007 and has no intentions on parting with it. Darchinyan, should he be successful in his challenge, would get a third title in as many weight categories. Moving up in weight should not be an issue as Vic walks around between 58 and 60 kilograms or between 128 and 132 pounds." My manager is already started negotiations with him, "said Darchinyan: "I think if everything goes through, the fight is going to happen in June." This should be another big step in the direction that Vic has chosen for his career.

"Of course, I am very happy," said Darchinyan as I asked for his thoughts about his pound for pound rankings:" But I want to be close to number one. This is what I am going to do this year, I am going to have two or three more fights this year and you will see; I am going to have great fights. The entire world knows I am a great puncher, but sometimes I want to remind them that I am not only a puncher, I am a technical fighter too. I can do anything that I want in the ring." That certainly seems to be the case, especially in his last three bouts.

Vic's popularity in his native country of Armenia could only be compared to a current pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao, a hero in Philippines. Can Vic Duplicate successful weight division jumps that catapulted Pacquiao into a superstardom? That remains to be seen.

However, I asked Vic about staging a fight in Yerevan, a capitol of Armenia.

"Gary Shaw, my promoter and Showtime would like to come to Yerevan to promote the fight," said Darchinyan, who just recently turned 33:" may be after this fight, I am going to go there and start putting things together. May be at the end of the year we will have a fight there. I would love to fight in Armenia." I bet his fans would love that too. Vic Darchinyan could easily fill up a soccer stadium in Yerevan. Stay tuned…