Australian Associated Press Pty. Ltd.
AAP NEWSFEED
August 25, 2005, Thursday
Fenech rates Darchinyan performance as his best ever
By Adrian Warren
SYDNEY
Jeff Fenech today rated Vic Darchinyan’s ruthless demolition of
challenger Jair Jiminez as the best performance of the world champion
flyweight’s career.
The Fenech camp is also confident Darchinyan’s mandatory defence
against Irishman Damaen Kelly will be held in Australia.
Darchinyan’s manager Robert Joske said the IBF had set an October 27
deadline for the fight with the 32-year-old Belfast-based boxer.
The 29-year-old champion improved his professional record to 24-0 by
taking just five rounds to demoralise Colombian Jiminez, the
ninth-ranked contender.
Trainer Fenech, who convinced Darchinyan to relocate to Australia
after representing Armenia at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, described
last night’s effort from his IBF and IBO champion as perfect.
“He was great, I just thought people don’t realise how good his
opponent was, and just how easy he handled him,” Fenech said.
“He made the guy do everything that he wanted. That’s a show of real
class.
“I was very worried. I thought it was going to be our toughest fight.
“I think it was his best one by far, especially because of the guy
that he fought. He didn’t rush. A lot of times he was behind the jab
and he brought him onto punches instead of doing what he always
does.”
After taking a two-week holiday in Armenia, which he has not visited
since winning the IBF title last December, Darchinyan will resume
training for his fight with Kelly, who has a 21-2 professional
record.
With the top two spots vacant, third ranked Kelly is the highest
ranked contender.
Kelly was the initial choice of opponent for last night’s fight, but
couldn’t agree terms with promoter William Takataka.
“I tried to bring him over here, but he wanted too much money, he
wanted more than the champion, so that’s why we didn’t want to go
ahead with that fight,” Takataka said.
Fenech and Takataka both expect the fight will go to a purse bid and
each is confident the contest will take place in Australia.
“I don’t think they’ve got the money to take the fight there, I’m
confident of having it here,” Fenech said.
Fight fans in Sydney have the choice of two promotions to attend
tomorrow.
World-ranked Nedal Hussein fights Australian light welterweight
champion Mick Shaw for the vacant IBO Intercontinental super
featherweight title at Auburn RSL.
At Penrith Panthers, world rated light heavyweight Jason DeLisle
headlines the card with an IBF Pan Pacific light heavyweight title
defence against Argentinian Fernando Vera.