Vic Darchinyan has waited six excruciatingly long years for Saturday night. The powerful southpaw from Armenia has wanted a rematch with Nonito Donaire from the moment Donaire drilled him with a perfect left hook that completely changed the course of their careers in July 2007. Donaire-Darchinyan II almost was arranged a few times in recent years, but it wasn’t until Donaire lost a unanimous decision to unbeaten Cuban technician Guillermo Rigondeaux on April 13 in New York that the rematch Darchinyan chased was scheduled. The prevailing perception is matchmakers for Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc., which promotes both boxers, think this is the perfect time for Donaire (31-2, 20 KOs) to fight Darchinyan again. Darchinyan (39-5-1, 28 KOs) remains a dangerous puncher, but he’s 37 and hasn’t been as effective in higher weight classes as he was when he was a feared flyweight. He was 28-0 (22 KOs) entering his ill-fated IBF flyweight title defense against Donaire. Their rematch will mark Darchinyan’s first fight at featherweight, too, which should be another advantage for Donaire as “The Filipino Flash” attempts to begin rebuilding the type of momentum he took into the Rigondeaux fight. Donaire is not overconfident, though, not after being outboxed by Rigondeaux. “I know that Vic is a very dangerous opponent who you can never overlook,” Donaire, 30, said on a conference call Tuesday. “When you have that power, age doesn’t matter.” Darchinyan stressed the same point Tuesday. If fighters in their 40s, most notably Bernard Hopkins and Juan Manuel Marquez, can continue winning at boxing’s elite level, Darchinyan sees no reason why he can’t conquer Donaire during their 10-round fight in Corpus Christi, Texas (9:30 p.m., HBO). If Donaire hurts him again, Darchinyan feels better prepared to deal with that type of trouble. The knockdown Donaire scored in the fifth round of their first fight was the first of Darchinyan’s career, and he reacted hastily by trying to reach his feet too quickly. Naturally, he expects to drop Donaire, not vice versa. “I’m going to stop him,” Darchinyan said. “I’m going to prove to the whole world that it’s not about him, it’s about me. I have more skills, I have more power, and I am very motivated. ? I’m going to come and demolish him.” – See more at: http://www.northjersey.com/sports/230774761_Idec_on_boxing__Featherweights_renew_rivalry_on_HBO.html#sthash.907CP3YW.dpuf
