Vic Darchinyan treated Jorge Arce as a stepping stone last Saturday at the Anaheim, CA, Honda Center even though Arce is a former two time world champion and is tough as nails.
Arce tried over and over again in the fight but didn't hit his target as much as he would have liked and the bout was stopped before the final bell was able to ring.
Darchinyan has come back well since his first and only loss to Nonito Donaire in July 2007. He has moved up in weight and fought four times, winning three and drawing in the other. He has an unorthodox style of fighting. A southpaw who likes to lunge in with his hands low, Darchinyan throws punches at odd angles but carries dynamite in both hands.
Darchinyan: Exciting in the ring
From the opening bell, Darchinyan came looking for the KO, landing accurate left uppercuts to his opponent's head at will. He looked like the younger fighter and even though he is 3½ years older than Arce, Darchinyan was the one pushing forward.
Arce was reaching with his punches and was leaving himself open. The third may have been Arce's only winning round as he started to throw straight right hands and left hooks to Darchinyan's head. He had some success but his Armenian opponent, nicknamed "Raging Bull", caught on quickly to Arce's plan.
From the opening bell, Darchinyan came looking for the KO, landing accurate left uppercuts to his opponents head at will. He looked like the younger fighter and even though he is 3½ years older than Arce, Darchinyan was the one pushing forward.
Wayne McCullough
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Darchinyan landed a picture perfect left uppercut to Arce's head rocking him momentarily. He pulled through but his legs still looked shaky right up to the end of the bout.
Going into the 11th round Arce was looking for a KO knowing that was what he needed. But he had taken a lot of headshots throughout the fight and during that same round, he took a lot more. The fight was stopped in between rounds 11 and 12 on the doctor's advice to the referee. Arce seemed to protest, showing how much of a warrior he is.
Darchinyan successfully defended his WBC, IBF and WBA belts and looked good doing it against a world class fighter like Arce. At the time of the stoppage, he was ahead on all three judges scorecards 109-100.
Donaire is the only fighter to defeat Darchinyan so maybe he will try to avenge that loss at his new weight. Donaire showed patience and quick accuracy against a moving target to win by KO so will Darchinyan want to fight him again?
Fernando Montiel holds the WBO belt at super flyweight so a complete unification bout could be the best fight for Darchinyan right now.
He may not have a personality that many people like but Darchinyan brings excitement to his fights and this is what boxing needs today.
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