Following his dominating world title unification victory over Christian Mijares, Vic Darchinyan asked reporters at the post-fight press conference “Did I keep my promise (to knock him out)? What about my pound-for-pound ranking? Mijares was No. 6.”
Even after a career changing win, the 115-pound International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) champ’s fight against Jorge Arce, Feb. 7 on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, is still about respect.
“Against Mijares, I promised to deliver a skillful, smart fight. I promised to destroy him and knock him out. And I did that,” Darchinyan said. “But I still don’t know if I get any respect.”
It seems no matter what the “Raging Bull” does, it is not good enough for his critics. He has been criticized for his aggressive, unorthodox fighting style, yet against Mijares he demonstrated polished boxing skills.
THE RING magazine neglects to include Darchinyan in their top-ten pound-for-pound rankings, and his victory over Mijares helped him barely crack the top twenty of ESPN’s rankings at No. 19.
“Vic Darchinyan is not getting the credit he should be in the pound-for-pound list(s),” said Gary Shaw of Gary Shaw Productions, Darchinyan’s promoter. “He should be at the top. He’s knocked out almost all of his opponents and he deserves that.”
A six-to-one underdog going into the showdown against Mijares, Darchinyan (31-1-1, 25 KOs), of Sydney, Australia, by way of Armenia, is favored to defend his world titles against Arce, the WBC No. 1 ranked challenger.
The popular, crowd-pleasing Arce (51-4-1, 39 KOs), of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, is the current WBA interim super flyweight champion and is a former WBC 115-pound and World Boxing Organization (WBO) 108-pound titleholder.
But don’t expect Arce, a trash-talking brawler like Darchinyan, to give the “Raging Bull” anymore admiration than he has to leading into the fight. And while Arce claims that he always respects his opponents, he’s not afraid to make a few predictions for their showdown.
“He has said things I don’t appreciate and it makes me work a little harder, but when we get in the ring I am going to hurt him,” Arce said. “I hope he stands there and fights for a while so I can really hurt him.
“I hope he doesn’t fall early because I want to give him a lot of punches. I know he can take a lot of punches, so I hope he is ready for them.”
Darchinyan and his camp might complain that he doesn’t get the respect he deserves, but the hard-hitting 115-pound champion certainly doesn’t give any either.
“I don’t respect my opponents, but I won’t underestimate them,” said Darchinyan. “With any opponent I will tell you what I will do with them. I believe any opponent who I fight I will dominate and destroy.
“I believe I will knock him (Arce) out, but I won’t knock him out in one round. That would be too easy for him. I am going to demolish him, destroy him and knock him out. He is going to remember me all his life.
Regardless of who respects who, fans can expect fireworks on Saturday night.
“Fans want to see fighters fighting, not dancing,” Arce said. “They want to see blood, I’ll give them blood. I love that. If it gets on me, I get more motivated and excited.
“I hope Darchinyan comes in the ring in shape so that we can have a good long fight and put on a good show. I want the fans to see a lot of blood and a lot of hitting. If I go down, I’m going to get up and I hope he does too.’’
In an equally exciting co-feature, No. 5 ranked WBC lightweight challenger Antonio DeMarco (20-1-1, 14 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico, will take on “Kid Diamond” Almazbek Raiymkulov (27-1-1, 15 KOs), of Las Vegas by way of Kyrgyzstan, in a 12-round lightweight bout for the North American Boxing Organization (NABO) title. DeMarco is no stranger to SHOWTIME boxing fans as he had three victories on ShoBox: The New Generation in 2008.
The 12-round world title fight, co-promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, and Bob Arum’s Top Rank, Inc., will take place from the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please visit the SHOWTIME Sports website at http://www.sho.com/sports.
“The Champion Returns” PPV Bout & Fact Sheet, plus presser quote
Ruslan Chagaev: “After my injury break — the long rehab, strength training and man, many training sessions without a break – I’m glad that I can return so quickly to the ring. For 2009 and 2010, I have big plans. I am now fully fit and focused on this fight, which I clearly want to win.”
Carl Davis Drumond: “Of course, I’m glad to have the world title shot. I have focused very intensely on Chagaev and have something special for him. If I can win here by knockout, that’s what I want to do.”
Andreas Kotelnik: “This second title defense is special for me. Not every fighter has a chance to box for a world championship. I will show that I’m the world champion and will remain (world champion).”
Marcos Rene Maidana: “Andreas Kotelnik is the world champion. He is a very technically gifted boxer and very fast. But I absolutely want to take the belt to Argentina.”
Denis Boytsov: “My opponent has a funny nickname. He needs to show in the ring whether he is a ‘King Kong.’ My trainer, Fritz Sdunek, has me in great shape and I’ll speak about my other goals after the fight.”
Israel Garcia: “I’ve had this name since I was an amateur. I was always a giant. Boytsov is a very hard puncher, who I respect but do no fear.”
MAIN EVENT – HEAVYWEIGHTS – 12 ROUNDS
RUSLAN “White Tyson” CHAGAEV CARL DAVIS DRUMOND
WBA Heavyweight “Champion in Recess” Former IBF & WBO Latino, WBC FECARBOX Heavyweight Champion
The Ring Rated No. 3 & 2000 Uzbekistan Olympian WBA Rated No. 10
Hamburg, Germany by way of Uzbekistan Limon, Costa Rica
26-0-1 (20 KOs) 26-0 (20 KOs)
WBA LIGHT WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
CO-FEATURE – 12 ROUNDS
ANDREAS KOTELNIK MARCOS RENE “El Chino” MAIDANA
WBA Light Welterweight Champion WBA No. 1 Contender
The Ring Rated No. 4 The Ring Rated No. 9
Hamburg, Germany by way of Ukraine Buenos Aires, Argentina
30-3-1 (13 KOs) 25-0 (24 KOs)
WBA INTERCONTINENTAL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
SPECIAL ATTRACTION – 12 ROUNDS
DENIS BOYTSOV ISRAEL “King Kong” GARCIA
WBA Rated No. 11 Dangerous Veteran
Hamburg, Germany by way of Russia New York, NY by way of Puerto Rico
23-0 (18 KOs) 19-2 (11 KOs)
YOHNNY PEREZ & SILENCE MABUZA GEAR UP FOR THE BANTAMWEIGHT BATTLE FOR THE IBF #1 MANDATORY POSITION
International Boxing Federation has confirmed that promoters of rising bantamweight stars Yonnhy Perez and Silence Mabuza have reached an agreement for the fighters to battle it out for the IBF #1 mandatory position on April 18, 2009 in South Africa.
Co-promoted by Thompson Boxing Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions, Colombian born Yonnhy Perez (18-0, 13 KO’s) who is based out of Santa Fe Springs, shared his thoughts on his upcoming battle for the #1 spot as an IBF mandatory: “I was just waiting for my promoters to come to a decision as to where my next fight will be so I can do what I am trained to do. I stay in shape between fights, so that I just need to adjust my style to overcome my opponent. Because I now know that this fight is for the #1 mandatory position for the IBF title, it makes it all the more motivating for me to get in the ring and make sure that walk out the victorious.”
A native South African, Silence Mabuza (22-2, 18KOs), who is known as “African Spice” became the IBO Bantamweight title holder in his last brawl against Argentina’s David Damien Marchiano, a fighter who has a history of squaring off against tough opponents like Mexican Olympians Abner Mares and Daniel Ponce De Leon. The courageous Mabuza is eager to take on the NABF Bantamweight champion. “I want fight fans to witness my determination to win.” said Mabuza.
Stated promoter Gary Shaw, “This will be the toughest test for Yonnhy in his young career. I know Silence Mabuza very well, and he is a warrior with great skills. However, I believe that Perez will have no problem fighting on foreign soil, and will come back to the US victorious.”
Perez, who recently returned from his homeland Colombia after a long awaited vacation with his family, will begin preparations for his toughest challenge to date in the following week. “Yonnhy is always in spectacular shape and is extremely focused in getting ready for this once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Alex Camponovo, General Manager of Thompson Boxing. “He is traveling far to get this chance and he will not comeback empty handed.”
The Perez vs. Mabuza IBF Bantamweight elimination bout is promoted by Branco Promotions in association with Gary Shaw Productions and Thompson Boxing Promotions and it will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Professional Boxing at Remington Park
Professional boxing returns to Remington Park, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on Friday, February 13, 2009, for a “guys night out” the night before Valentine’s Day! Fights start at 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
Boxing warriors preparing to battle on February 13 include knockout artist and undefeated Oklahoma Lightweight Champion Noah Zuhdi (5-0, 5 KOs). Zuhdi will be fighting Jason Jones (2-1, 2 KOs) from Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Zuhdi was recently named by The Daily Oklahoman as Oklahoma’s boxing prospect of the year.
Undefeated George “Comanche Boy” Tahdooahnipah (15-0, 14 KOs), current Native American Boxing Council Super Middleweight Champion, will be fighting Tyrone Dowdy from Memphis, Tennessee.
Local favorite Kyle Sherman (10-1, 6 KOs) will fight in a scheduled eight round bout with the rugged boxer Brad Hill, who is traveling from Arkansas to fight Sherman. The fight between Sherman and Hill is anticipated to be very exciting, as Hill has been predicting a knock out of Sherman.
The renowned former OKC Blazer, heavyweight Ron Aubrey (3-2, 3 KOs), returns to Remington Park to fight June Brown. And Heavyweight Ty Cobb (3-0, 3 KOs) from Wichita Falls, Texas, will be fighting Shawn Dismukes from Moore, Oklahoma. Veteran Mike Dodds (10-18) will also be fighting.
Rounding out the card is undefeated super featherweight Shadi Hamsho (9-0), known to many as the flashy fighter with flare, from Los Angeles (via Sweden). Hamsho will be boxing veteran fighter Chris Hill. Hill has been in the ring with some of the best in the world and the scheduled six rounder between Hamsho and Hill should be quite a fight.
CatBOX is also happy to announce that Tracy Thomas will enter the ring as announcer. Tracy is the very popular afternoon DJ of KXY Radio (96.1FM).
And before the Main Event, Oklahoma’s own Darla Z will sing the National Anthem, accompanied by violinist Gena Alexander. Darla Z has opened in concert for country legend Willie Nelson, performed to sold out crowds at Sam’s Town Casino in Las Vegas and recently appeared in concert with Wayne Newton.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
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*Tickets available at Remington Park the day of the event, Casino Entrance*