GOBBLER’S KNOB, (Groundhog Day 2009) — At 7:30 A.M. today, Punxsutawney Phil — the Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of all Prognosticators — emerged from his burrow at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Penn., and proclaimed, in his native Groundhogese, that JORGE “Travieso” ARCE’S reign as the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) interim super flyweight champion would last less than six days, until Saturday, February 7, when he rumbles with World Super Flyweight Champion VIC “Raging Bull” DARCHINYAN, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. SHOWTIME will televise their battle live, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast..)
“It’s going to be a long and cold winter for Señor Arce,” stated Phil as he shadowboxed during his annual news conference. “It may be fight week for Darchinyan, but it’s the ‘Adios Tour’ for Arce. On fight night Darchinyan will be a Raging Bull in a china shop and he’s going to kick Arce’s assets all over the ring. There will be no bailout for him. It’s Chapter 7 for Arce — out of business!”
The world’s most famous predictor, wearing a Darchinyan headband and a T-shirt emblazoned with “VICtory” on the front, went on to forecast that Darchinyan, already a two-division world champion, would be winning additional world titles as a bantamweight, a super bantamweight and beyond.
“I’m very bullish on Vic Darchinyan. He’s the economic stimulus that will continue to spur boxing’s growth and popularity!” exclaimed Phil.
When pressed for a definitive answer on whether Arce had a chance to defeat Darchinyan, Phil astounded the media by answering in English.
Quoth the groundhog, “Nevermore.”
Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Top Rank, the February 7 world championship doubleheader at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif, will also feature the North American Boxing Organization lightweight championship battle between top contenders ANTONIO DeMARCO and ALMAZBEK “Kid Diamond” RAIYMKULOV.
Remaining tickets, priced at $250, $125, $90, $60, $45 and $35, can be purchased through Ticketmaster (all Ticketmaster outlets), by phone, 714-740-2000, online at www.ticketmaster.com and at the Honda Center box office.
Darchinyan (31-1-1, 25 KOs), of Sydney, Australia by way of Armenia, and Arce (51-4-1, 39 KOs), from Los Mochis, Mexico, will settle their bitter hostilities toward each other, once and for all, in a fight to the finish. Their battle will be televised live nationally on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast.) The broadcast will open with DeMarco (19-1-1, 13 KOs), of Tijuana, Mexico, risking his three-year, 13-bout unbeaten streak and Top-10 rating in a career-defining fight against the battle-tested Raiymkulov (27-1-1, 15 KOs), from Las Vegas, Nev., by way of Kyrgyzstan, who is enjoying his own two-year winning streak. These four gladiators boast a combined record of 128-7-4 (92 KOs) – a winning percentage of 92% and a victory by knockout ratio of 72%.