
Donaire/Darchinyan Interview Transcript

Nonito Donaire boxing news
Ever since that night, Darchinyan has voiced his quest for the rematch over and over, but being that boxing is a political as well as a business career, it’s not always about being humble and giving your competition chances that are unnecessary and don’t make long term sense.
At last, Darchinyan, by way of Rigondeaux beating Donaire, has arrived at this golden opportunity to not only avenge a loss, but to skyrocket his career to all new heights.
Vic Darchinyan (39-5-1, 28 KO’s) realizes that he’s been brought in as the sacrificial lamb for Nonito Donaire (31-2, 20 KO’s)to slaughter this Saturday night on HBO to make Donaire look better than he is and to make boxing fans forget about the sight of a bleeding Donaire being clowned by WBA super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux last April. Darchinyan doesn’t care that he’s being brought in as a kind of a tune-up fight for Donaire instead of a credible opponent, because he plans on embarrassing Donaire by knocking him out in front of the entire nation on HBO at the American Bank Center, in Corpus Christi, Texas, USA.
Darchinyan said this on Tuesday’s conference call “I think so, yes. I think so. That’s why he [Donaire] chose me after the loss to Rigo. I think also that Nonito was exposed. I’ve been training hard for Nonito. I will stop him.
Nonito Donaire (31-2, 20 KO’s) and Vic Darchinyan (39-5-1, 28 KO’s) will be mixing it up this Saturday night on HBO from the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. It’s been exactly six years since Donaire and Darchinyan last fought in 2007, and it didn’t turn out too well for Darchinyan with him getting stopped in the 5th round.
Chances are that Darchinyan won’t do any better on Saturday night than he did back in 2007. A lot of boxing fans wanted to see a Donaire-Darchinyan rematch over the years, but it seems like a lot of the interest in that fight died down a long time ago after Darchinyan started losing regularly. He’s now been beaten in two out of his last four fights, and he’s even struggling to beat lesser fighter.
Donaire (31-2, 20 KOs), a native of General Santos City, Philippines, now living in Las Vegas, Nev., has been a consensus top-10 pound-for-pound fighter for several years. His 12-year, 30-bout winning streak came to an end in his last fight, losing a decision to undefeated Cuban sensation and WBA super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rogondeaux in a title unification bout last April. Trained by 2012 Trainer of the Year and former world champion Robert Garcia, Donaire is himself the reigning Fighter of the Year. 2012 was a career year for Donaire, winning four world title fights — all televised live on HBO. Highlights included capturing the vacant WBO junior featherweight title in February, winning a gritty split-decision battle over former world champion Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr.
Nonito Donaire (31-2, 20 KO’s) said the other night that he’s walking around at 145 lbs. right now, and he’s going to see if he can drop the weight to take a fight against Vic Darchinyan in October or November. However, he’s not really sure if he can take that much weight off without being brittle for his next fight, and he prefers that not happen.
If Donaire doesn’t feel good in trying to get down to 122, he’s going to move up to 126 and go after one of the world titles at that weight. Donaire would be looking to face the likes of Chris John or Evgeny Gradovich.
Bob Arum is looking to match Nonito Donaire (31-2, 20 KO’s) against Vic Darchinyan (39-5-1, 28 KO’s) in a fight that’ll take place in November, according to Dan Rafael. Why Arum is interested in making this match after all these years is anyone’s guess.
It’s likely that he sees Darchinyan as one of the few recognizable names that he can put with Donaire. It’s also a fight that is a winnable one for Donaire, and he clearly needs a victory after getting soundly beaten by WBA super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux last April.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is saying that former IBF/WBO super bantamweight Nonito Donaire (31-2, 20 KO’s) will be back in the ring in either October or November this year against a still to be determined opponent. It won’t be newly crowned WBC super bantamweight champion Victor Terrazas because he’ll likely be facing newly signed Top Rank fighter Vic Darchinyan.
If Darchinyan wins that fight then Arum would like to match him against Donaire in a rematch in 2014. Donaire stopped Darchinyan in the 5th round in 2007.
Move aside and let the fighter enjoy and partake in the spoils which resulted from the biggest night of his professional career. Recognition is slowly seeping in simply because the shock may be finally headed towards the door. Prior to last Saturday evening, Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire was among the top pound for pound fighters on the planet.
News flash: he still is. Concurrently, Guillermo “El Chacal” Rigondeaux was indeed the jackal of sorts for the vast and overwhelming majority of twelve rounds in the ring set upon a stage at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. He put on a master class, yet the fact that he thoroughly and soundly beat Donaire isn’t a chorus line which has happily resonated in the eyes of much of the boxing public. What more must he do.
He was in the right venue, so maybe Rigondeaux needs to stick around to become a top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Christopher N. (Atlanta, GA): How would you rate Donaire’s performance? And would you entertain the thought of placing Rigondeaux on the P4P list?
Vivek W. I think the best way to address your questions is to point to something I said a long time ago and have maintained ever since. The way I see the whole P4P topic is totally abstract from what the rest of the sport feels. I once touted Donaire’s talent as much as anyone else, but when the topic shifted to such accolades as “Fighter of the Year” and “P4P” worthy, I openly stated that I would take no part in such dialogue. The kid is better than average. His heart is bigger than average. He’s a good lookin’ kid, and a very likable guy outside the ring. All that being said, for those who understand the greatness behind pure fundamental skills, there’s no hesitance to address the fact that he simply isn’t on that level.