AP Photo/Chris Carlson
Unified super flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan punished Jorge Arce over 11 brutal rounds Saturday night before a stoppage and in my estimation can be crowned the king of the division. And while some hard core segments of the sport feel that there is unfinished business with flyweight champion Nonito Donaire after he knocked out Darchinyan back in July, 2007, "The Raging Bull" has surpassed Donaire in ability and more importantly in marketability.
Long before the ringside physician stopped the fight in the corner prior to the final round, Arce had learned a painful lesson which Christian Mijares and Dmitri Kirollov had learned before him, Vic is no longer the one dimensional seek and destroy fighter of prior years. Though Darchinyan's main arsenal against Arce was a hammer like left hand which landed straights, hooks, and uppercuts all night long, he now has enough wrinkles in his game to know when to hold, fight off a jab, and create defensive distance with his feet.
Donaire knocked Darchinyan's block, but is this relevant today? What have both fighters done since that particular fight? Darchinyan went up in weight and has fought five times. His record during the run is 4-0-1, the draw being a controversial one against Z Torres and two of the wins were against true world class opposition: Arce and Mijares. More impressively, very few fans or experts picked Darchinyan to defeat Mijares. Not only did then the technically gifted Mijares losr to Vic, he was knocked out in the ninth round. His destruction of Arce washes the nasty taste of the Donaire defeat out of Darchiyan's mouth, possibly for good.
As for Donaire, during the same period he has fought twice against marginal competition: Luis Maldonado and Moruti Mthalane. Shortly after the Maldonado fight, Donaire dumped promoter Gary Shaw (who also promotes Darchinyan) to join the ranks promoter Bob Arum. Seems as if Donaire has had better luck in creating controversy outside of the ring than securing a high profile fight. Arum sends Donaire off to fight Raul Martinez in the Philippines on March 22. So credit Donaire for a big knockout win, but status within boxing is not built on one fight.
If fight between Darchinyan and Donaire took place today, call me nuts, but I would have to make Darchinyan a betting favorite and for the record, Gary Shaw will not entertain a fight between his star Darchinyan and a man he considers an ingrate.
Revenge over Donaire would be nice and round out his fight resume, but Darchinyan will face-off against the opponent which will garner the biggest purse. Who would that be? My inner-magic eight ball tells me Darchinyan vs. Fernando Montiel is in our near future.
Montiel holds the World Boxing Organization's super flyweight belt and that is the only piece of the puzzle Darchinyan is missing for complete unification. In terms of match making, at his best Montiel is a boxer-puncher with above average power; Montiel vs. Darchinyan could be high drama and action filled. In terms of marketability, two of three best Mexican super flyweights have already been knocked out and Montiel would be the proud nation's last hope to derail Darchinyan.
So with all respect to Nonito, a splendid little fighter who has not been maneuvered into the bouts he deserves, King Super Fly does not need him to polish off his legacy.
Comments
Nonito does not need Darchinyan is what you should say at this time.
an ignorant fool like u should not write an article..darchinyan needs to avenge his only loss if he wants to get a recognition..seems like he is ducking donaire for a very long time fighting shot boxers..
Nonito is the only logical fight for Vic. Economic wise, Montiel could deliver the better purse., but he is not a strong and solid opposition. Montiel won a controversial decision vs. Z Gorres the same Gorres salvage a draw vs Vic.
With due respect to Vic's skills and ability he has gone far than Donaire. A rematch with him and avenge his embarassing lossed will cement all these legacy.
you think by evading nonito donaire vic will gain something? come on ricardo, nonito's ghost will hunt vic if he will not settle a rematch immediately. And most fans like me wants to see vic ass kiss the canvass again.. i want him to collect belts for nonito! because i would say vic darchinyan is made for nonito. lols
how much did Shaw paid you, man?
unbelievable story you got.
Come on...
Everyone what Shaw is trying to do.
He dont want Darchinyan to lose momentum by fightin Donaire now cause he'll lose again. So Vic pretends he wants to fight Donaire again then their script says Shaw will always object and make the impression that Vic is not afraid to fight him again.
Arce? He's just a popular Mexican celebrity there? He's not that skillful. He just comes forward and have himself punched again and again.
Cut the crap, man!!!
This article is right on. Donaire is a nobody at this point. You morons think Vasquez/Marquez are easier opponent than Donaire? Vic wants to fight the best and where is Donaire hiding, who is he fighting. The way Vic fights now, Donaire has no chance.
I am no fan of Donaire, but he is the only fighter to win over vic (by knockout)..it is very unfair to say that he (donaire) has no chance to win over vic ( the way vic fights now). Lets wait and see when they set a rematch between the two fighters...bet the proud vic will kiss the canvass...again..
Vic will never get the complete respect unless he avenges his loss to Donaire. Every great fighter has avenged their losses. In my humble opinion, Vic will never beat Donaire. Donaire is younger, taller, stronger, faster, and smarter than Vic.
Shaw doesnt want Vic to fight Donaire coz he knows its the end of Vic's career if he face Donaire.
I find it very funny that a tough-guy like Vic (the man of few words haha) would not be screaming for another chance to fight Nonito. I believe that Shaw believes that Nonito has got Vics number, thus, no fight. Any one in boxing (with their right mind) knows Vic is foaming at the mouth for "Sweet Revenge" but "Big Daddy Shaw" is smarter and says no, because Nonito walked out on him or because he knows what I think Nonito by KO...He will always have the lefties number and own him until they fight again..Prove me wrong Gary Shaw.....................
cuatrokantos,
Vic is not only recognized, hes undisputed. if you want to talk about lack of recognition, look at the abyss of non fights donaire has fallen into.
arce and mijares are hardly "shot" boxers. when he moves up and fights montiel and vasquez, will you call them "shot" fighters too? sounds to me like youre the ignorant fool here. the author is right, vic does not need donaire, he has gone way past donaire. donaire will never ever come close to where vic is right now, and where hes going. watch vic knock out montiel, then go to war with vasquez. donaire has been left in the dust. and if theres a rematch, vic gets inside on donaire by working off the jab, something vic learned to do after he got crushed... vic by KO. early.
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