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Boxer Darchinyan takes pay cut

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  • Boxer Darchinyan takes pay cut

    Seven.com.au, Australia
    July 5 2005


    Boxer Darchinyan takes pay cut
    Date: 05/07/05
    By Adrian Warren



    Australia's only current home-based boxing world champion Vic
    Darchinyan has taken a substantial pay cut to make his next defence
    at home against Colombian challenger Jair Jiminez.

    The International Boxing Federation flyweight title holder will make
    his second defence on July 27 on a d-rush promotion at the Sydney
    Entertainment Centre after knocking back a number of "considerable
    offers" to fight overseas.

    Darchinyan, who relocated to Australia after representing Armenia at
    the Sydney 2000 Olympics, will be having his first fight under the
    aegis of the Duet management team.

    "Vic turned down some considerable offers overseas for his title
    defence and he wants to do it in his hometown of Sydney," Duet's
    Robert Joske said.

    "Several people made strong offers, but he wants to set himself up as
    an Australian first and a journeyman travelling into other countries,
    second," Joske added.

    All bar one of Darchinyan's 23 professional fights were held in
    Australia, the one exception being the bout in Florida last December
    when he took the IBF title from another Colombian Irene Pacheco.

    "I love to fight in Australia," Darchinyan said.

    The 29-year-old Sydneysider made his first defence in his adopted
    city against South African Mzukisi Sikali back in March at the
    considerably smaller Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre.

    "It is a financial gamble on behalf of the promoters, but we were
    keen to think that if you do it midweek at the Sydney Entertainment
    Centre then the corporate world of the CBD will potentially come out
    and support a champion," Joske said.

    Darchinyan said he appreciated the support and expertise he would get
    from Duet.

    "Robert will look after me, I won't be involved in business, I will
    do my job fulltime in boxing and I don't have to think about
    different things," Darchinyan said.

    Jiminez, 26, has a record of 22 wins (16 KO's) four losses and one
    draw.

    "He's a strong puncher and I think it will be a great fight, because
    I'm a puncher too," Darchinyan said.

    Joske's stable includes cricket stars and fight fans Steve Waugh and
    Justin Langer, with the former expected to attend Darchinyan's title
    defence.

    Provided he gets past Jiminez, Darchinyan will try to also win the
    World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association titles.

    "The opportunity to unify the flyweight division is foremost on his
    radar," Joske said.

    "The fact that he loses six to seven kilos to fight as a flyweight
    suggests that there will be opportunities for him to move into other
    divisions once he has achieved everything he can in the flyweights."

    He has the power to compete in probably two, or even three weight
    divisions above what he is fighting at now.
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