A FIRST round knockout.
This was the bold prediction made by International Boxing Federation (IBF)-World Boxing Organization (WBO) flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan as he guaranteed a quick ending and big victory for him in his championship battle with Filipino challenger Diosdado “Prince” Gabi on March 3 at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California.
Darchinyan, who is called the “Raging Bull,” vowed to knock Gabi out when told the challenger will not run from him come fight night.
“If he does not run away from me, then it will be a first round knockout,” Darchinyan said during an international media conference call Tuesday in California.
So confidant is Darchinyan that he even asked Gabi to choose any round he is going to stop the Filipino fighter and “I will stop you in any round, any minute.”
But Gabi and his trainer Freddie Roach are unfazed.
“Gabi is in great shape for the fight. He trained really hard. We had great sparring and we got some big punchers because we know Vic is a very big puncher and a very good champion, and a big favorite going into the fight,” Roach said.
“We respect the champion’s power, but I can assure you 100 percent that Gabi is not going to run from him. He is motivated and is not afraid of Darchinyan,” added Roach, who has been training Gabi since he arrived in America in August.
The 26-year-old Gabi, who is from Barangay Lasang, Davao City, said he is great shape right now and will fire away with bombs of his own.
“I will try to land hard punches and go in as much as possible,” said Gabi, who is expected to dig in and engage Darchinyan at close quarters since he is giving away three inches in height to his opponent.
Gabi stands at 5’2″ while Darchinyan is 5’5″ 1/2. Gabi has a record of 26-2-1 with 18 KOs while Darhinyan holds an even more impressive record of 24-0 with 19 KOs.
When reminded that Gabi has never been stopped before, Darchinyan insisted this would be the first time Gabi will fall.
“It will be a knockout, but I’m ready to go the distance. I’m prepared for the fight. I am ready for this fight and I will stop him,” Darchinyan said.
Darchinyan’s trainer, Jeff Fenech, had this to say, “We prepared really well for the fight. We have been here (Los Angeles) for a couple of days sparring and doing pad work, getting ready. We have a lot of respect for our opponent and especially because he has such a great trainer in his corner in Freddie Roach. We know that Freddie does not take anybody into any fight who is not prepared properly.”
Gabi will be making his second fight in the US. He won his debut in September via a fifth round TKO over Mexican Jose Alfredo Tirado.
In his parting shot, Gabi said, “I want to thank everybody for giving me this chance to fight and I will try very hard not to fail all those who are hoping for me to win.”
