DEFENDING WORLD flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan of Australia and Filipino challenger Diosdado “The Prince” Gabi comfortably made the weight limit for their 12-round title fight today at the Chumash Casino and Resort in Sta Ynez, California.
But amidst an apparent trouble-free weigh-in yesterday, expect fracas to come about for their title fight as both fighters guaranteed a knockout victory.
Apart from the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and International Boxing Organization (IBO) titles at stake, a shot at superstardom is the main factor that motivates both boxers to score resounding win.
The 30-year-old Darchinyan is fresh from signing up with American promoter Gary Shaw and is probably compelled to attain a momentous conquest.
Shaw, the same promoter who handled Filipino boxing idol Manny Pacquiao during the latter’s last two fights, has trumpeted the Armenia-born Darchinyan as the next flyweight superstar.
Shaw, evidently looking past Gabi, has already issued a challenge for flyweight supremo Jorge Arce of Mexico to face Darchinyan in a title fight.
The 26-year-old Arce is the acknowledged superstar of the division and is also being eyed by Hawaiian world champion Brian Viloria, the current world lightflyweight ruler who traces his roots in Ilocos Sur.
Darchinyan had a grand American ingress on December 2004 in Hollywood, California where he demolished the then-unbeaten Irene Pacheco of Colombia via 11th round stoppage to snatch the IBF crown.
Darchinyan has since defended the crown twice last year in Australia, defeating South African Mzukisi Sikali via 8th round TKO in an IBF/IBO unification match, then stopped Colombian Jair Jimenez in the 5th round.
On the other hand, the 26-year-old Gabi has been hanging about in the United States since last year to realize his longtime quest of challenging for a world title.
The Davao-native Gabi, ranked No. 4 in the IBF and No. 2 in the WBC, had a promising debut September of last year in Stockton, California where he scored a 4th round Technical Decision versus Mexican Alfredo Tirado.
A win by Gabi will give the country its first official world boxing champion since Pacquiao, despite his superstar status, has yet to claim a regular world title in any alphabet organization.
