King Vic wants to rule
By GRANTLEE KIEZA
Daily Telegraph, Australia
Dec 20 2004
VIC Darchinyan, Australia’s latest world boxing champion, returned
home to Sydney yesterday promising that the IBF flyweight title was
just the start of his world domination.
And Australia’s most powerful boxing official Ray Wheatley, who
orchestrated Darchinyan’s assault on the long-time IBF world champ
Irene Pacheco in Florida last Friday, says the new champ can keep the
crown for many years.
“Vic can dominate the flyweight title in the same way Kostya Tszyu
has ruled the junior-welterweights for nearly a decade” said
Wheatley, the IBF vice-president. “Kostya won the IBF
junior-welterweight title back in 1995 and then went on to crush the
champions of the other major boxing organisations – the WBC and WBA.
“I can see Vic doing the same thing.
“Irene Pacheco was a great champion who had held the title for five
years and had never lost in 30 fights dating back to 1993.
“He had been an exceptional champion for the IBF but with Jeff Fenech
calling the shots Vic came out and crushed him.”
Darchinyan, 28, used a series of left hooks to separate Pacheco from
his crown in round 11 and wants to apply the same brutal force to
Thailand’s WBC flyweight champ Pongsaklek Wongjongkam, a pocket-sized
southpaw sharpshooter who shot down the title hopes of Fenech’s other
flyweight contender Hussein Hussein in Bangkok last year.
“I will crush Pongsaklek,” said Darchinyan, who was in Hussein’s
corner that night and has been licking his lips ever since for his
chance to tangle with the Thai terror.”
Darchinyan wants to make one defence of the IBF title – possibly
against Brian Viloria in Hawaii – and then go after the WBC champ.
He will enjoy a few weeks holiday with his parents who are coming out
from Armenia for three months to celebrate his triumph.
Then he will resume training with Hussein, who hopes to face WBO
champ Omar Narvaez of Argentina at Penrith Panthers on February 6.
It has been a remarkable rise for Darchinyan who lost in the
quarter-finals at the Sydney Olympics when representing Armenia and
using his real first name, Vakhtang.
Not long ago the fierce 51kg fighting force wanted to have his photo
taken with that other great Vic, Vic Patrick, but was too shy to ask.
Patrick was Australia’s great lightweight of the 40s and the pair
have a similar style, with a crab-like southpaw stance and awesome
power in both hands. But Darchinyan also boasts the intensity and
relentless aggression of his trainer.
“Vic is an incredibly strong guy,” said Fenech, who claims his
fighter can match his feats of three world titles at different
weights.
“Not only does Vic have tremendous power but he has great desire and
determination, too.
“He’d fight Mike Tyson if he had the chance and like Kostya he is
incredibly professional and focused on what he wants to achieve.”