The Australian
December 2, 2011 Friday
2 – All-round First Edition
Darchinyan to jump in MMA cage next year
BOXING: Australian world champion Vic Darchinyan is planning to step
out of the ring and into a mixed martial arts cage.
The feisty Sydney-based brawler revealed his bold scheme at a media
conference for his bantamweight world title unification fight with
Panama’s Anselmo Moreno in Anaheim, California tomorrow.
Darchinyan’s US promoter Gary Shaw said if IBO champion Darchinyan, a
former flyweight and superflyweight boxing world title holder,
defeated Moreno and claims his WBC belt, he would probably quit boxing
and head for MMA full-time.
However, Darchinyan said after the media conference he would fight an
MMA match next year but would not quit boxing.
The 35-year-old known for his killer instinct and punching power with
27 knockouts in his 37 professional victories said he would compete in
both sports.
“It is 100 per cent I am going to have an MMA fight next year,” he said.
Darchinyan was born and raised in Armenia and his father was one of
the nation’s Olympic wrestling coaches, a skill he plans to use in the
cage when he takes on his first MMA opponent.
“I know physically I am very strong and I want to show everyone how
good I am in MMA,” Darchinyan said.
Combatants in MMA fight standing and on the ground, combining
disciplines including boxing, wrestling, karate, judo, muay Thai and
Brazilian jiujitsu.
Darchinyan’s fight card tomorrow also includes the grudge rematch
between Mexico’s Abner Mares and Joseph King Kong Agbeko and among
onlookers at the media conference were leading US boxing promoters Don
King and Oscar De La Hoya.
Darchinyan is also eyeing a rematch with the winner of Mares and
Agbeko after both fighters scored controversial wins over him in
recent years.
To book a big payday fight with Mares or Agbeko he will have to defeat
the tall, lanky Moreno, a 26-year-old promoted by De La Hoya who has
31 wins (11 KOs), one loss and a draw.
“I am here to destroy him and knock him out,” Darchinyan said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress