DARCHINYAN VERSUS DONAIRE READY TO EXPLODE
Paul Upham Contributing Editor
SecondsOut
Sept 30 2006
The power of Vic "Raging Bull" Darchinyan – HoganPhotos.com
By Paul Upham: While most boxing fans are looking forward to the
third fight between Diego Corrales and Joel Casamayor next weekend
in Las Vegas on Showtime Championship Boxing, the main support bout
at flyweight is promising to be just as explosive. IBF/IBO flyweight
world champion Vic "Raging Bull" Darchinyan and challenger Glenn
"The Filipino Bomber" Donaire have both promised to be aggressive
and come out throwing bombs.
"I am very excited for this opportunity," said Donaire. "This time,
I can really show myself. In my last couple of fights, I wasn’t
throwing as hard a punches as I was before. I’m very excited and
very prepared for this fight. I just can’t wait. All my opponents
have been moving around lately. I’m a pressure fighter. I don’t run,
I don’t slug. I like to throw. I like to throw hard punches. Lately,
I haven’t been doing that. But it’s coming October 7. I am really
hitting hard right now. I just can’t wait."
The 26 year-old has been sparring his younger brother Nonito Donaire,
who competes at junior bantamweight to prepare for his first world
title fight.
"I am more prepared now," he said. "Mentally and physically prepared.
Before, I was working too much. I was working 7 days a week. Right
now, I have days off and I have been training so hard, sparring with
my brother who is a lot bigger than I am. My brother said that I am
hitting him hard. I am just very excited about this. I want to be
one of the champions."
One of the most aggressive punching world champions today, Darchinyan’s
power has been evident this year in his last two knockout wins over
Diosdado Gabi on ShoBox on March 3 and against Luis Maldonado on
Showtime Championship Boxing on June 3. The Armenian born Australian
citizen whose record stands at 26-0 (21), has been training in Los
Angeles for the last four weeks and loves to spar with much bigger
boxers to fine tune his power.
"Sparring is good," he said. "I am sparring with guys 25lbs heavier
than me. I am punching well. I feel my power right now. Donaire says he
has a good punch. His brother is telling him that his punch is coming
harder. When he fights me, he will see a hard puncher. He does not
know what a hard punch means. He will see on October 7. That’s why I
lime to spar guys who are heavier than me. When I am hurting boxers
who are 25lbs heavier than me and they are scared of me, I can feel
my power. When I am sparring guys in training in my own division,
I am not comfortable hitting them hard."
After Darchinyan’s promoter Gary Shaw was unable to entice WBA
champion Lorenzo Parra or WBO champion Omer Narvaez into a world title
unification bout for this fight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center,
Darchinyan specifically asked to be matched with someone who punches
hard to make for an exciting contest.
"I saw one of his fights on tape from a couple of years ago," said
Darchinyan. "Glenn likes to come forward and punch. He is a wild
puncher. I will tell him what is better for him, to run. Over twelve
rounds, if he is a good runner maybe he can survive. But if he stands
and punches with me, he will go down very soon."
"Darchinyan does not have a style," claimed Donaire, during a
midweek media conference call. "He just punches. To me, he is a lucky
puncher. He depends on his left hand. With me, I have not proved my
self lately. In my last fight, I didn’t really throw bombs like I used
to. It’s coming October 7 and he will see. He can be a strong fighter,
but style makes the fight. He will see. I can punch both hands. I
heard he has to lose a lot of weight. I will just give him four or
five rounds. For four or five rounds he is going to be strong. After
that, he is going to be mine."
30 year-old Darchinyan, who has stopped eight opponents in a row,
including the last five in world title fights, was quick to respond
directly to Donaire’s analysis of him.
"Glenn, if you are talking about my left," he asked, "you want me to
knock you out with my right? You choose. You choose which hand you
will like."
"I know we are going to have a good fight," replied Donaire.
The Californian based Donaire 16-2-1 (9) who originally hails from
General Santos City in the Philippines, agrees that Darchinyan is
the best of the flyweight division right now, until he fights him
of course.
"Yes, he is," he said. "You don’t want to take any chances fighting
Vic. The difference between me and Vic’s past opponents, they were
intimidated by him. Not me. I do spar with bigger guys too. I evened
knocked out a 150lbs guy with a body shot. I thank Vic for me being
his opponent."
"You know why Glenn?" asked Darchinyan. "I wanted to fight you because
you challenged me. You told me you can beat me. After I stop you,
everyone can see that it is all just talk."