Bruce LudlowDARCHINYAN CLAIMS WORLD CROWN
August 3rd 2008 23:24
VIC DARCHINYAN has joined the ranks of Australia's greatest boxers by demolishing Russian Dimitri Kirilov to win a world title in a second weight division.
The Sydney-based power puncher dominated the fight with his harder shots and knocked the champion down twice in the fifth round.
The Armenian-born fighter, who relocated to Sydney in 2000 after the Olympics, improved his professional record to 30-1-1 with 24 KOs.
Darchinyan said he was always confident he would win at least one professional world title after joining the paid ranks.
Kirilov, 29, couldn't continue after the second knockdown and suffered his fourth defeat in 34 professional fights, dropping to 29-4-1.
He simply could not match the power of the 32-year-old Australian who today added the IBF super flyweight crown to that organisation's flyweight title which he won in 2004.
A delighted Darchinyan became only the second Australian citizen to win a world title in more than one weight class, following Jeff Fenech who captured championships in three different divisions.
A modest Darchinyan said he didn't consider himself to be on the same level as Fenech or Australia's former undisputed junior welterweight world champion Kostya Tszyu, but hoped to be ranked alongside them by ultimately unifying the super flyweight division.
The ambitious Australian reiterated he also wanted to eventually move up in weight and win a title in a third weight class.
He said his main target now was WBA and WBC super flyweight champion Cristian Mijares.
Mexican Mijares, 26, is scheduled to defend his titles against Thailand's Chatchai Saskul in Monterrey, Mexico on August 30.
Fighting under his very first trainer from Armenia, Darchinyan said his plan had been to work the jab early before throwing in some uppercuts in the fifth round.
Darchinyan said he thought he was always in control of today's fight.
“Everyone is saying it is one of my best performances,” Darchinyan told AAP.
“Showtime (USA cable television network) is very happy with me and so is my American promoter Gary Shaw.
“I think it is one of my best performances.”
He will travel to Armenia for a break before returning to Australia in September.
Following a fight with Mijares, Darchinyan wanted to unify the division by dethroning Mexico's WBO titleholder Fernando Montiel and then look at moving up in weight.
The Sydney-based power puncher dominated the fight with his harder shots and knocked the champion down twice in the fifth round.
The Armenian-born fighter, who relocated to Sydney in 2000 after the Olympics, improved his professional record to 30-1-1 with 24 KOs.
Darchinyan said he was always confident he would win at least one professional world title after joining the paid ranks.
Kirilov, 29, couldn't continue after the second knockdown and suffered his fourth defeat in 34 professional fights, dropping to 29-4-1.
He simply could not match the power of the 32-year-old Australian who today added the IBF super flyweight crown to that organisation's flyweight title which he won in 2004.
A delighted Darchinyan became only the second Australian citizen to win a world title in more than one weight class, following Jeff Fenech who captured championships in three different divisions.
A modest Darchinyan said he didn't consider himself to be on the same level as Fenech or Australia's former undisputed junior welterweight world champion Kostya Tszyu, but hoped to be ranked alongside them by ultimately unifying the super flyweight division.
The ambitious Australian reiterated he also wanted to eventually move up in weight and win a title in a third weight class.
He said his main target now was WBA and WBC super flyweight champion Cristian Mijares.
Mexican Mijares, 26, is scheduled to defend his titles against Thailand's Chatchai Saskul in Monterrey, Mexico on August 30.
Fighting under his very first trainer from Armenia, Darchinyan said his plan had been to work the jab early before throwing in some uppercuts in the fifth round.
Darchinyan said he thought he was always in control of today's fight.
“Everyone is saying it is one of my best performances,” Darchinyan told AAP.
“Showtime (USA cable television network) is very happy with me and so is my American promoter Gary Shaw.
“I think it is one of my best performances.”
He will travel to Armenia for a break before returning to Australia in September.
Following a fight with Mijares, Darchinyan wanted to unify the division by dethroning Mexico's WBO titleholder Fernando Montiel and then look at moving up in weight.
| 91 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
