Jeff Fenech is concerned about the lack of preparation time for flyweight boxing world champion Vic Darchinyan’s title defence against Filipino Diosdado Gabi in California next weekend.
IBF and IBO champion Darchinyan on Friday headed to the United States, where he will fight Gabi at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez on March 3 (March 4 Australian time).
After numerous postponements of the proposed mandatory defence against Irishman Damaen Kelly, Darchinyan had only a month to prepare for the fight against Gabi.
“We didn’t have much time in training, so everything has been a bit rushed, it hasn’t been the greatest preparation,” Fenech said at Sydney Airport.
Fenech stressed he wouldn’t be pushing his fighter any harder than normal in the final week of his preparation.
“You can’t push him too hard now, because he’ll be too flat for the fight,” Fenech said.
While Darchinyan would have liked a longer preparation, he was adamant he was still in good shape.
“I’ve had just four weeks preparation. Of course, if it was six weeks. I’d be better, but I still feel very good,” Darchinyan said at the airport.
Southpaw Gabi, 26, whose record stands at 26 wins (18 KOs) two losses and a draw, hasn’t tasted defeat for almost four years.
“Gabi is classy, he’s a little fast guy, a good mover,” Fenech said.
“He likes to stand there as well, but he won’t stand there with Vic, nobody stands with Vic, once they feel his power.”
The fight will be Darchinyan’s first since he signed a two-year deal with American promoter Gary Shaw and the bout will headline a SHOBOX: The New Generation card on the Showtime network.
“Vic has got to look good, there’s going to be a lot of people who will line up and want to fight him if they see flaws,” Fenech said.
“I’ve got to try and make him take his time and be the best he’s been.”
Darchinyan was also looking forward to displaying his talents in front of a potential television audience numbering many millions.
“Because an American promoter is involved, many people are watching this fight,” Darchinyan said.
“They heard about me, but haven’t seen my fights, they just saw my last fight (in America) with Irene Pacheco. Many people are waiting for me.”
Another Australian with world title glory on his mind is veteran Shannan Taylor, who leaves on Saturday for Germany, where he will challenge IBF middleweight world champion Arthur Abraham next weekend.
Abraham’s perfect professional record of 19 wins, 17 by KO, includes a 12th round stoppage of Australian Nader Hamdan.
Hamdan, who is about to resume training after he spent the second half of last year sidelined with injury, wants a rematch with Abraham.
His wish list also includes a fight with Taylor, Danny Green and Anthony Mundine.
