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April 5 2014
Likely title shot for Darchinyan
By Dan Rafael | ESPN.com
Former two-division titleholder Vic Darchinyan, who gave Nonito
Donaire fits before being stopped in his last fight, performed well
enough in defeat that it probably will land him a shot at a
featherweight title.
Darchinyan likely will challenge 126-pound titlist Nicholas Walters on
May 31 at the CotaiArena at Venetian Macao in Macau, China, on the
undercard of Donaire's shot at a different version of the title in the
main event against Simpiwe Vetyeka.
Walters (23-0, 19 KOs), 28, of Jamaica, was originally slated to make
his second title defense against Alejandro Perez, but Perez took a
tune-up bout against journeyman Juan Carlos Martinez and lost a split
decision in disappointing performance last week.
That opened the door for the 38-year-old Darchinyan (39-6-1, 28 KOs),
who held titles at flyweight and unified belts junior bantamweight, to
get the offer for the fight.
Asked if they were going to make a deal, Frank Espinoza, Darchinyan's
manager, told ESPN.com, "Yes, it looks that way. This is a great
opportunity for Vic to show the world that he still has what it take
to be a world champion. Vic is hungry and ready for war. In China, a
new champion will be crowned and Vic will make history."
Donaire and Darchinyan both were making their featherweight debuts
when they met in a rematch of Donaire's knockout victory to win a
flyweight title in 2007. In the November rematch, Darchinyan was ahead
on two scorecards and even on the third as they headed for the ninth
round of a fight in which Darchinyan fractured Donaire's orbit bone.
But Donaire rallied and stopped the Armenian-born Darchinyan in the
ninth round.
"Darchinyan clearly showed that he is far from done with his
performance against Donaire," Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti
told ESPN.com. "He was ahead on two of the three scorecards, he has a
great name, he's been a great champion. It's an interesting fight, and
it's a good test for Walters. Vic would be the best opponents Walters
has faced. Walters is not as experienced as Darchinyan, but he's
younger and strong."
http://espn.go.com/blog/dan-rafael/post/_/id/8408/likely-title-shot-for-darchinyan
April 5 2014
Likely title shot for Darchinyan
By Dan Rafael | ESPN.com
Former two-division titleholder Vic Darchinyan, who gave Nonito
Donaire fits before being stopped in his last fight, performed well
enough in defeat that it probably will land him a shot at a
featherweight title.
Darchinyan likely will challenge 126-pound titlist Nicholas Walters on
May 31 at the CotaiArena at Venetian Macao in Macau, China, on the
undercard of Donaire's shot at a different version of the title in the
main event against Simpiwe Vetyeka.
Walters (23-0, 19 KOs), 28, of Jamaica, was originally slated to make
his second title defense against Alejandro Perez, but Perez took a
tune-up bout against journeyman Juan Carlos Martinez and lost a split
decision in disappointing performance last week.
That opened the door for the 38-year-old Darchinyan (39-6-1, 28 KOs),
who held titles at flyweight and unified belts junior bantamweight, to
get the offer for the fight.
Asked if they were going to make a deal, Frank Espinoza, Darchinyan's
manager, told ESPN.com, "Yes, it looks that way. This is a great
opportunity for Vic to show the world that he still has what it take
to be a world champion. Vic is hungry and ready for war. In China, a
new champion will be crowned and Vic will make history."
Donaire and Darchinyan both were making their featherweight debuts
when they met in a rematch of Donaire's knockout victory to win a
flyweight title in 2007. In the November rematch, Darchinyan was ahead
on two scorecards and even on the third as they headed for the ninth
round of a fight in which Darchinyan fractured Donaire's orbit bone.
But Donaire rallied and stopped the Armenian-born Darchinyan in the
ninth round.
"Darchinyan clearly showed that he is far from done with his
performance against Donaire," Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti
told ESPN.com. "He was ahead on two of the three scorecards, he has a
great name, he's been a great champion. It's an interesting fight, and
it's a good test for Walters. Vic would be the best opponents Walters
has faced. Walters is not as experienced as Darchinyan, but he's
younger and strong."
http://espn.go.com/blog/dan-rafael/post/_/id/8408/likely-title-shot-for-darchinyan