Tweet
DARCHINYAN GETS TOP SUPPORT IN ARMENIA ADRIAN WARREN
Sydney Morning Herald
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/darchinyan-gets-top-support-in-armenia-20110902-1jq6m.html
Sept 2 2011
Australia
Imagine Prime Minister Julia Gillard turning up at ringside for a
boxing bout and you'll get an idea of the high level support Vic
Darchinyan will get for his world title defence in Armenia this
weekend.
Armenian-born Australian citizen Darchinyan hasn't fought in the
country that spawned him since shortly before representing it at the
2000 Sydney Olympics.
His IBO bantamweight world title defence against South African Evans
Mbamba in the capital of Yerevan on early Sunday morning (AEST) will
headline the first professional boxing promotion ever held in Armenia.
Advertisement: Story continues below Such is 35-year-old Darchinyan's
status in the country of his birth that prominent politicians from the
government and opposition will be among the expected capacity crowd.
"I'm very happy that the president is going to be here and the
opposition is going to be here, I'm very excited," Darchinyan told
AAP from Armenia where he has been training for seven weeks.
"The president is overseas, he's arriving Saturday and coming straight
to my fight.
"We're going to have a full stadium, it's very exciting."
Darchinyan (36-3-1, 27 KOs) was adamant he wouldn't be weighed down
by the expectations of a nation keen to see the victorious return of
a conquering hero from overseas.
"I'm not thinking there's too much pressure on my shoulders,"
Darchinyan said.
"I will go to the ring and all I see is my opponent.
"The president and government ministers are going to be at the fight,
I'm a professional, I'm just going to be focused on my fight."
Southpaw Mbamba 29, (18-1, 9 KOs) suffered his only professional
loss in a points decision in a WBC interim super flyweight title
fight against Mexican Tomas Rojas, a fighter Darchinyan knocked out
in two rounds.
"I saw him (Mbamba) on YouTube, he's a puncher, he loves to come
forward and punch," Darchinyan said of Mbamba.
If he wins on the weekend Darchinyan said his next bout could be in
the United States in December.
He revealed he could also have the option of another fight in eastern
Europe.
Darchinyan said the manager of world rated Russian super bantamweight
Alexander Bakhtin would attend his bout on the weekend and was
interested in bringing him to Moscow to fight his charge.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Sydney Morning Herald
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/darchinyan-gets-top-support-in-armenia-20110902-1jq6m.html
Sept 2 2011
Australia
Imagine Prime Minister Julia Gillard turning up at ringside for a
boxing bout and you'll get an idea of the high level support Vic
Darchinyan will get for his world title defence in Armenia this
weekend.
Armenian-born Australian citizen Darchinyan hasn't fought in the
country that spawned him since shortly before representing it at the
2000 Sydney Olympics.
His IBO bantamweight world title defence against South African Evans
Mbamba in the capital of Yerevan on early Sunday morning (AEST) will
headline the first professional boxing promotion ever held in Armenia.
Advertisement: Story continues below Such is 35-year-old Darchinyan's
status in the country of his birth that prominent politicians from the
government and opposition will be among the expected capacity crowd.
"I'm very happy that the president is going to be here and the
opposition is going to be here, I'm very excited," Darchinyan told
AAP from Armenia where he has been training for seven weeks.
"The president is overseas, he's arriving Saturday and coming straight
to my fight.
"We're going to have a full stadium, it's very exciting."
Darchinyan (36-3-1, 27 KOs) was adamant he wouldn't be weighed down
by the expectations of a nation keen to see the victorious return of
a conquering hero from overseas.
"I'm not thinking there's too much pressure on my shoulders,"
Darchinyan said.
"I will go to the ring and all I see is my opponent.
"The president and government ministers are going to be at the fight,
I'm a professional, I'm just going to be focused on my fight."
Southpaw Mbamba 29, (18-1, 9 KOs) suffered his only professional
loss in a points decision in a WBC interim super flyweight title
fight against Mexican Tomas Rojas, a fighter Darchinyan knocked out
in two rounds.
"I saw him (Mbamba) on YouTube, he's a puncher, he loves to come
forward and punch," Darchinyan said of Mbamba.
If he wins on the weekend Darchinyan said his next bout could be in
the United States in December.
He revealed he could also have the option of another fight in eastern
Europe.
Darchinyan said the manager of world rated Russian super bantamweight
Alexander Bakhtin would attend his bout on the weekend and was
interested in bringing him to Moscow to fight his charge.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress