Danny Flexen says there are many obstacles but the juice will be worth the squeeze. “I’M telling you!” I couldn’t see Vic Darchinyan – we were talking on the telephone – but as the Aussie-Armenian strongly emphasised the painful nature of the beating he would administer to former conqueror Nonito Donaire should they meet again, I could visualise the little puncher wagging his finger vigourously and pacing around his Sydney abode.
Darchinyan’s hatred for Donaire – more evidence of which can be found in a four-page feature in the current Boxing News – is so palpable and his conviction regarding the outcome of any rematch so assured, the listener is almost compelled to agree with him unequivocally.
Almost. But while Vic insists he lost only because of his own mistakes, Donaire is quietly flourishing in the background. Since his fifth-round stoppage of Darchinyan in 2007, Donaire has not stopping winning, mainly by knockout or stoppage and Saturday’s three-knockdown triumph over Volodymir Sydorenko added a brutal exclamation point to a superb run of form.
Sydorenko was a long-time WBA bantamweight champion before losing that crown to Anselmo Moreno along with their return – both close fights – in his only two defeats. During his impressive reign, the Ukranian had beaten a Frenchman in Marseille and a Japanese in Osaka. He had never been stopped, was coming off a decent win and has a wealth of experience at bantam. It looked a tough fight for Donaire who fought at flyweight as recently as eight months ago. Darchinyan hinted at an upset.
Donaire punished Sydorenko, the Eastern European’s forward march taking him directly into the firing line of the Filipino’s rangy, whizzing blows. Volodomir was dropped in the first, third and fourth but such was Donaire’s effortless dominance, he could seemingly have finished matters anytime after the opener.
Despite a stand-out performance, given more prominence by its elevation on the Anaheim card when main eventer Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr withdrew from the bill, Donaire’s long-awaited – not least by his big rival – rematch with Darchinyan will have to wait. The second most popular Filipino boxer – a bit like being the Swiss No. 2 at tennis – meets WBC and WBO bantam king Fernando Montiel in a big fight for the lighter weight classes on February 19. Montiel’s stoppage win over Hozumi Hasegawa in Japan may look even better given the latter’s recent world title victory at featherweight, or you could glean that the victim had been struggling at the lower poundage. Either way, powerful but wild Mexican Montiel had been losing the contest before finding a big right hand in the fourth. Montiel is dangerous but his swarming pressure, replete with wide hooks, looks tailor-made for the rangier, speedy Donaire.
Darchinyan has his next two fights sewn up. This Saturday he gets unbeaten Abner Mares in the semi-final of Showtime’s four-man bantam tournament that Bob Arum prevented Donaire and Montiel from competing in. That said the tourney winner will almost certainly meet the February victor in the summer. That could be the most celebrated fight involving smaller guys since Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez III.
After their first fight, surprisingly it was loser Darchinyan, not Donaire, who progressed to higher-profile opportunities. The brash character with a big punch found himself in demand and bulldozed his way to the three main belts at super-fly. A narrow defeat to Joseph Agbeko – who, along with Yonnhy Perez completes the tournament line-up – has not taken the sheen off those achievements.
Negotiations for a Donaire reunion fell through amid acrimony earlier this year with both sides blaming the other. Donaire who after all won the first fight and thus has little to prove appears ambivalent over the prospect of a return. But until recently he has probably needed Darchinyan more – from a financial perspective – than vice versa. Emotionally, there is no contest; if Vic doesn’t obtain the rematch before the end of his career, he may become a very bitter retiree.
With his superb and destructive performances, plus the emergence of another exciting rival in Montiel, Donaire has become warm, if not quite hot property. If he beats the Mexican and Darchinyan wins the tournament – ideally avenging his defeat to Agbeko in the final – the pair will need each other equally and public demand for a return will hit its peak. Donaire, recognising Darchinyan’s improved form, must be inclined to attempt to shut his rival’s mouth.
There are many obstacles blocking the path to a rematch but if surmounted these will only add to the ultimate satisfaction when the bout comes together. I really hope it happens, in part for Darchinyan’s peace of mind, but most of all for boxing. It needs to happen. I’m telling you! Until next time...
Source: boxingnewsonline.net
Darchinyan’s hatred for Donaire – more evidence of which can be found in a four-page feature in the current Boxing News – is so palpable and his conviction regarding the outcome of any rematch so assured, the listener is almost compelled to agree with him unequivocally.
Almost. But while Vic insists he lost only because of his own mistakes, Donaire is quietly flourishing in the background. Since his fifth-round stoppage of Darchinyan in 2007, Donaire has not stopping winning, mainly by knockout or stoppage and Saturday’s three-knockdown triumph over Volodymir Sydorenko added a brutal exclamation point to a superb run of form.
Sydorenko was a long-time WBA bantamweight champion before losing that crown to Anselmo Moreno along with their return – both close fights – in his only two defeats. During his impressive reign, the Ukranian had beaten a Frenchman in Marseille and a Japanese in Osaka. He had never been stopped, was coming off a decent win and has a wealth of experience at bantam. It looked a tough fight for Donaire who fought at flyweight as recently as eight months ago. Darchinyan hinted at an upset.
Donaire punished Sydorenko, the Eastern European’s forward march taking him directly into the firing line of the Filipino’s rangy, whizzing blows. Volodomir was dropped in the first, third and fourth but such was Donaire’s effortless dominance, he could seemingly have finished matters anytime after the opener.
Despite a stand-out performance, given more prominence by its elevation on the Anaheim card when main eventer Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr withdrew from the bill, Donaire’s long-awaited – not least by his big rival – rematch with Darchinyan will have to wait. The second most popular Filipino boxer – a bit like being the Swiss No. 2 at tennis – meets WBC and WBO bantam king Fernando Montiel in a big fight for the lighter weight classes on February 19. Montiel’s stoppage win over Hozumi Hasegawa in Japan may look even better given the latter’s recent world title victory at featherweight, or you could glean that the victim had been struggling at the lower poundage. Either way, powerful but wild Mexican Montiel had been losing the contest before finding a big right hand in the fourth. Montiel is dangerous but his swarming pressure, replete with wide hooks, looks tailor-made for the rangier, speedy Donaire.
Darchinyan has his next two fights sewn up. This Saturday he gets unbeaten Abner Mares in the semi-final of Showtime’s four-man bantam tournament that Bob Arum prevented Donaire and Montiel from competing in. That said the tourney winner will almost certainly meet the February victor in the summer. That could be the most celebrated fight involving smaller guys since Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez III.
After their first fight, surprisingly it was loser Darchinyan, not Donaire, who progressed to higher-profile opportunities. The brash character with a big punch found himself in demand and bulldozed his way to the three main belts at super-fly. A narrow defeat to Joseph Agbeko – who, along with Yonnhy Perez completes the tournament line-up – has not taken the sheen off those achievements.
Negotiations for a Donaire reunion fell through amid acrimony earlier this year with both sides blaming the other. Donaire who after all won the first fight and thus has little to prove appears ambivalent over the prospect of a return. But until recently he has probably needed Darchinyan more – from a financial perspective – than vice versa. Emotionally, there is no contest; if Vic doesn’t obtain the rematch before the end of his career, he may become a very bitter retiree.
With his superb and destructive performances, plus the emergence of another exciting rival in Montiel, Donaire has become warm, if not quite hot property. If he beats the Mexican and Darchinyan wins the tournament – ideally avenging his defeat to Agbeko in the final – the pair will need each other equally and public demand for a return will hit its peak. Donaire, recognising Darchinyan’s improved form, must be inclined to attempt to shut his rival’s mouth.
There are many obstacles blocking the path to a rematch but if surmounted these will only add to the ultimate satisfaction when the bout comes together. I really hope it happens, in part for Darchinyan’s peace of mind, but most of all for boxing. It needs to happen. I’m telling you! Until next time...
Source: boxingnewsonline.net
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