Philippines, 04 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


DARCHINYAN BACK AS CHAMP, AIMS DONAIRE REMATCH


PhilBoxing.com




Vic Darchinyan bolstered his quest for world supremacy by getting his comeback KO over Filipino Federico Catubay in Auburn RSL Club, Auburn (Sydney), New South Wales, Australia. But not before being threatened with the greatest upset of his career by under-rated Filipino fighter.

Nicknamed ?Magnifico,? Catubay knocked Darchinyan off balance in the sixth round with an extensive punch and only the ropes saved Vic from visiting the canvas. A knockdown could have been called but there was none.

The Armenian-born fighter took nearly the full 12 rounds against a very valiant and exasperating adversary. The Raging Bull scored a 12th round TKO with just 57 seconds remaining against the harsh Cebu-based fighter. The bout was for the International Boxing Organization world super-flyweight title.
While the IBO crown doesn't carry the influence or prestige of some of the more established boxing organizations, it will guarantee Darchinyan to remain in the upper echelons of the global boxing scene.

In his first fight in Australia for over two years, 31-year-old Darchinyan carefully picked apart his gutsy but outboxed opponent. "It was a hard fight. He was tough and it's actually good because I can now learn from my mistakes,'' Darchinyan said.

Darchinyan, who improved his record to 29-1 with 23 KOs, dominated the bout, registering knockdowns in the 7th and 11th round. Catubay's record dropped to 20-14 with 11 KOs. The Filipino fighter took enormous punishment in the 12th round and Australian referee Garry Dean stopped the bout with the final round almost ending.

The Raging Bull, who also picked up the IBF Pan Pacific belt, entered the ring rated No. 6 by IBF and No. 3 by IBO computerized listings, while the Filipino is rated a far away No. 31 by IBO.

In a previous visit to Sydney in 2005, Catubay was halted in three rounds by Darchynian's stablemate Hussein Hussein, older brother of trainer Billy, for the OPBF flyweight belt.

Darchinyan's amateur career was 158-18 record with 105 knockouts, all but 20 of them were in Armenia, as he joined Armenian team in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He lost to Bulat Jumadilov of Kazakhstan. Darchinyan moved to Australia after competing in the Olympics, eventually became an Australian citizen and turned pro at the age of 24.

It was Darchinyan's first fight since losing his IBF and IBO world flyweight titles to Filipino Nonito Donaire, Jr. in July and he immediately called out Donaire for a rematch. ?My promoter wants to promote a rematch between me and Donaire early in the New Year,? declared Darchinyan. "That's something my manager will have to work out.''

Darchinyan's passion for knocking out his opponents finally backfired in his bout with Donaire, with the then champion leaving himself exposed to a colossal left hook which ended the fight in the fifth round.

The US-based General Santos City native won the IBF flyweight title with a knockout of the previously undefeated southpaw on July 7, 2007 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. His counter left hook that landed on Darchinyan?s jaw is an early candidate for knockout of the year and even upset of the year for 2007.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 FEBRUARY 2026: Shakur Schools Teofimo to Become 4-Division Champ; Zayas Unifies WBA/WBO Superwelter; Kelly Beats Murtazaliev
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Grand Week for Boxing in NY
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories
    , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta
    , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Noah Lucas Palcis sees action in Bangkok chess meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Reymond Yanong Edges Out Hayato Ono for Split Decision Win in Japan
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • “I’m gonna smoke whoever is in front of me, Anthony Wright- Hearn makes his pro debut March 13 at Thunderdome 53
    , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • Pacman's Cue Club Hosts J&P 10 Ball Cup from Feb. 4 to 7
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge is back
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • WILDER AND CHISORA FACE OFF IN ICONIC TIMES SQUARE TO ANNOUNCE APRIL 4 HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN AT THE O2 LONDON
    , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • World Boxing appoints Tom Dielen as new Secretary General
    , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • Sullivan Management signs 19-1 power-punching Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga
    , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • Another Grandeza in MMA is coming
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • Gracie meets Zubiri in PH
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 02 Feb 2026
  • International Master Eric Labog Jr. rules FIDE rapid chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 02 Feb 2026
  • 76ers star Paul George has been suspended for 25 NBA games by doping
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Fit To Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles
    , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Fit To Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles
    , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Trazo beats Jabagat in Talisay
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Into fights Sanchez on Feb. 9 at Villa Kristen
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson: Styles Make Fights Fitting Cliche
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • Bryan Flores Wins Majority Decision Over Starling Castillo in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
    , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • KinetixSports Legacy Run on March 1
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • THE RING 6: OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON
    , Sat, 31 Jan 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.