Philippines, 30 Jan 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


DARCHINYAN AVOIDS TALKING ABOUT REMATCH WITH DONAIRE


PhilBoxing.com




WBC/WBA super flyweight champion Vic “The Raging Bull” Darchinyan surprisingly didn’t go off on a tirade about a rematch with Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire who knocked him out cold with one punch on July 7, 2007 to take away Darchinyan’s IBF and IBO flyweight titles in a pre-fight press conference for his title defense on Saturday.

Instead, Darchinyan focused on his title defense against Rodrigo “Gatito” Guerrero at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage, California on Saturday.

Darchinyan who has a record of 33-2-1 with 27 big knockouts needs to overcome the comparatively inexperienced Mexican Guerrero who has a record of 13-1-1 with 9 knockouts including eleven straight wins before eyeing a rematch with Donaire. Guerrero often switches between his regular southpaw stance and orthodox and can confuse his opponents because of this.

In their final pre-fight press conference, boxingscene.com quoted Darchinyan as saying he didn’t want “to talk about any possible fights for me in the future. My main focus is on Guerrero and after defeating a determined, young opponent, I am here and ready to do my job.”

The often cocky Australian who was originally from Armenia said the title defense against Guerrero is a good fight for him and it would give him a chance to “showcase all my skills, not just a punch. I plan to do everything – box, think and stay calm.”

According to the boxingscene.com report Darchinyan noted that Guerrero had fought a couple of good fighters and done very well and there was no way he was going to underestimate the Mexican adding, “I think he has a future in boxing, but it won’t begin until after I beat him on Saturday.”

Guerrero is coming off a KO win over unheralded Rey Lopez last December 18. Prior to that he won a unanimous eight round decision over Luis Maldonado, the same fighter who was pulverized by Donaire and lost by an 8th round TKO in an IBF/IBO flyweight title bout in December 2007.

Guerrero also won a twelve round split decision over journeyman Juan Alberto Rosas to grab the WBC Continental Americas title on July 26, 2008. Rosas in turn had lost an eight round unanimous decision to Filipino southpaw AJ “Bazooka” Banal on May 5, 2007 but in his last fight won a twelve round unanimous decision over the unorthodox and wildly swinging Federico Catubay in an IBF super flyweight eliminator.

Discussing a possible knockout, Darchinyan said “If the knockout comes, it comes. But it is going to come. He will feel my power."

For his part Guerrero spent some time dismissing claims that he was not ready for a fighter like Darchinyan saying “I know a lot of people may not have heard of me, but I guarantee I am not here to fall down in the first or 12th round – or any round, for that matter. People and fans who have never seen me fight are saying I’m no good. I believe they are all in for a surprise, a really big surprise.”

Guerrero conceded “Everyone has an opinion, but the negative talk has only given me more motivation. And I didn’t need any more motivation. Fighting for two world titles was enough. Darchinyan is a great fighter with a lot of power. But, watch and see, I can fight and I have power, too. This is going to be a great fight."

The fight card promoted by the well-known Gary Shaw will also feature unbeaten Australian , Lenny “Lenny Zappa’’ Zappavigna (22-0, 15 KOs) who battles Fernando “La Fiera” Angulo (22-6, 14 KOs) of Venezuela for the International Boxing Organization (IBO) lightweight title.

Zappavigna’s record is padded with wins over a number of Filipinos with no outstanding talent and often fighting above their natural weight limits in Australia. The wins include a unanimous eight round decision over Rey Anton Olarte last July 24, a 2nd round TKO over Jurland Cebiza ob August 27, 2008, a unanimous ten round decision over Leon Maratas on July 25, 2008, a 2nd round KO over Ruben Santiollanos on March 7, 2008 among others.

Angulo, on the other hand, scored a 4th round TKO over the comparatively worthy contender in Ranee “Th KO Kid” Ganoy in an IBF eliminator for the No. 2 lightweight ranking on December 5, 2008.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Press Conference Notes: Puerto Rican Star Xander Zayas Ready for Saturday's Hometown Unification Battle against Abass Baraou
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • ‘THE RING 6’ TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • NEWCASTLE PRESS CONFERENCE: WHAT WAS SAID AS JOSH KELLY AND BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV ARE KEPT APART AFTER HEATED FACE-OFF
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Flores vs. Castillo’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • WAPA Deportes Confirmed as Puerto Rican Broadcast Home for Saturday’s Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Legendary Panamanian Juan Carlos Tapia will be inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Promotions Announces Additional Matchups for Saturday, February 28 Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • SWERVE TV STRIKES MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS TO EXPAND PREMIUM BOXING CONTENT
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Leuenbergers to join IRONMAN® 70.3 Davao
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Open Workout: Xander Zayas and Abass Baraou Prepare For Saturday's Unification Showdown in Puerto Rico
    , Thu, 29 Jan 2026
  • Cabrera-Zapata Kicks Off All Star Boxing's 2026 Season
    , Thu, 29 Jan 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines: Cash prizes, FIDE rating at stakes this Sunday
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 29 Jan 2026
  • IBP Fun Run & Family Day on February 15
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 29 Jan 2026
  • TEOFIMO LOPEZ AND SHAKUR STEVENSON FACE-OFF AT KNICKS GAME AS COUNTDOWN TO ‘THE RING 6’ ON SATURDAY BEGINS
    , Wed, 28 Jan 2026
  • Davao to sponsor P500K in IRONMAN 70.3
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 28 Jan 2026
  • JOSH KELLY SOUNDS WARNING TO WORLD TITLE RIVAL BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV AS HE TARGETS HISTORIC NORTH EAST HOMECOMING
    , Wed, 28 Jan 2026
  • Gallegos and Alvarez Shine Bright with Knockout Wins at Fontainebleau Las Vegas
    , Wed, 28 Jan 2026
  • Pedro Carrasco Remembered in Spain 25 Years After His Passing
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 28 Jan 2026
  • Gensan Outdoor, Gensan Educator support MFPI 5th Mindanao Summit in Mt. Apo
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 28 Jan 2026
  • Vitor vs Subkhankulov, Tapales vs Kalsynov in Double IBF Asia Title Fights in Moscow on Feb. 13
    By Dong Secuya, , Tue, 27 Jan 2026
  • “It’s about owning my own journey” Jeanine Brown retuns for Title Clash March 13 – Thunderdome 53
    , Tue, 27 Jan 2026
  • Long Boxing Journey settles in New Bedford, MA for Junior Featherweight prospect Joshua Alvarado
    , Tue, 27 Jan 2026
  • Steph Curry is 19th leading scorer of the NBA
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 27 Jan 2026
  • Ocum is WBC Asian lightweight champ
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 27 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.