Darchinyan brutally knocks out Rojas, Zappavigna wins in US debut
Vic Darchinyan was thinking about nothing but revenge only moments after his emphatic knockout win over Mexican Tomas Rojas at the Rancho Mirage in California. It took Darchinyan just a tick under three minutes of the second round to flatten Rojas to defend his WBC and WBA super-flyweight belts.
"I want rematches" said Darchinyan, who was supported by a large contingent of Australians, including IBO world cruiserweight champion Danny Green.
First up on Darchinyan's revenge list is The Filipino Flash, Nonito Donaire, who scored a fifth-round technical knockout over him in 2007. Then Darchinyan wants a rematch with Ghana's Joseph "King Kong" Agbeko. Agbeko surprised Darchinyan when he stepped up a weight division to fight the African for the IBF bantamweight world title in July.
"Every night when I sleep I am thinking about when I'll fight those guys, it is in my dreams." Darchinyan said.
Darchinyan's cornerman Angelo Hyder said it was touch and go whether Darchinyan would have lasted the scheduled 12 rounds yesterday.
"A lot of the credit to this win by Vic belongs to our medical staff." Hyder said.
"Kevin Ibins, a Sydney chiropractor, worked overtime to get his right hand and shoulder right, while team medico Steve McNamara uncovered a problem Vic's had with his breathing all his professional career. A scan six weeks ago in Sydney revealed his ribs were pressing on his lungs, which made breathing difficult. I deliberately didn't let on about Vic's physical problems. I didn't want to give the Mexican's camp any edge." Hyder added
Urged on by Green in his corner, Darchinyan extended his record to 33-2 with one draw. It was also the Armenian-born fighter's 27th win inside the distance in a match-up of southpaws.
Rojas, the taller of the pair, saw his record fall to 32-11 after his first loss in more than two years. Rojas troubled Darchinyan with his right jab in the opening round.
"He landed a few good punches early, Rojas hit me a good few times, but unlike the last time, I didn't panic, I was not going to rush him. The plan Angelo worked out for me was to take it easy." Darchinyan said.
"In the back of my mind I knew I would beat him. I'm not arrogant when I say that, I just had that special feeling fighters get before they step into the ring. The first time I looked into his eyes I saw he was scared. The first time I hit him with an uppercut I knew I was better than him." Darchinyan said
Darchinyan's moment came with just six seconds left on the clock in the second round when a straight left to the head set up another straight left to the chest that Rojas tried to avoid.
Instead, Rojas ducked his head into the path of Darchinyan's left and was caught flush on the chin before being put on his backside.
"I just knew he was going to crouch down. I just sensed it. I didn't aim for his head. I was aiming for his chest and he put his head in the way of the punch." Darchinyan said.
Darchinyan's win makes up for the loss to Agbeko six months before when he moved up a division to fight for the IBF bantamweight crown. Darchinyan's next target is Nonito Donaire, the first man to beat Darchinyan and the only man to knock him out, who is ranked two in the world.
On the untelevised portion of the undercard, undefeated Aussie prospect Lenny Zappavigna made his US debut a successful one when he scored a one-sided six round unanimous decision over Mexican journeyman Sergio Macias.
Zappavigna went right after Macias as he threw wild, but vicious hooks and crosses to the head of Macias, some stunning the veteran fighter. Macias did his best to hold on. The Mexican tried to fight back, but he did not have the firepower to trade with his younger opponent.
As Zappavigna pressed the action trying to score a possible knockdown, Macias' face reddened and a cut opened above the bridge of his nose. Macias took tremendous punishment, but was not visibly hurt. He even traded punches during the last 20 seconds of the fight with Zappavigna.
All three judges scored the bout 60-54 in favour of Zappavigna. Zappavigna improved to 22-0, 15 KO's, whilst Macias' record dropped to 14-19, 6 KO's.