Ask any boxer and the standard line is they will fight anyone. But throughout the lead up to his clash tonight with former International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight champion Yonnhy “El Colombiano” Perez, in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING’s broadcast (10:30 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles, Two-division world champion Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan has been hammering the point.
“After this fight, if I don’t get a title shot at 118, I will move up to 122; I will move down to 115. Doesn’t matter.”
In fact, at the fighter meeting with the Showtime crew, Darchinyan offered (jokingly) to fight color commentator Antonio Tarver.
“Vic is a true warrior,” said his promoter, Gary Shaw of Gary Shaw Productions. “When Joseph Agbeko first fell out of his fight with Abner Mares, Vic offered right away to fight both Perez and Mares on the same night. That’s just the kind of guy he is.”
Darchinyan has vowed to dispense with the boxing skills he displayed in his last fight, a close loss to Mares, and go back to what he knows. “No more skills. After this fight everyone will be talking about my power again.”
Tickets, priced at $200, $100, $75, $50 and $25, are on sale at Ticketmaster.com, via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines (800) 745-3000 and at STAPLES Center Box Office. Doors at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE open at 4 p.m. PT. The first non-televised undercard fight starts at 5 p.m.
Geale in Germany
After a trip of 27 hours, Daniel Geale today arrived in Berlin to continue his preparation for his May 7 clash with IBF Middleweight Champion Sebastian Sylvester. “He is very experienced but I have come here to win the title,” Geale said.
Shaw: I’ll Petition the Darchinyan-Perez winner tonight to fight Mares Next
Regardless of who wins tonight’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING broadcast from the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles (10:30 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast), between former International Boxing Federation (IBF) Bantamweight Champion Yonnhy “El Colombiano” Perez and two-division world champion Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan, promoter Gary Shaw says he’ll petition the IBF to sanction an Interim title fight between them and IBF #4-rated Abner Mares.
Mares saw his title shot dissolve earlier this week when champion Joseph Agbeko was stricken with sudden-onset sciatica and their fight had to be cancelled.
“If Agbeko cannot fight in a timely fashion and defend his title, I will personally petition the IBF to let the winner of this fight for the title against Mares,” stated Shaw.
Shaw, who has a sole promotional agreement with Darchinyan and shares a co-promotional agreement with Thompson Boxing on Perez, explains it’s not just about advancing his fighters, it’s a matter of keeping one of boxing’s most talent-laden divisions moving.
“Bantamweight is a hot weight to be at right now and the powers in boxing should work to make as many of these stellar matchups happen as soon as possible. Plus, Abner Mares should have the right to fight for the IBF title and shouldn’t have to wait an inordinate amount of time. There are so many action fights to be made at this weight. I’m sure when Joseph is well again he’ll defend against the interim champion in another great fight.”
Perez is currently rated #7 at bantamweight by the IBF.
Tickets, priced at $200, $100, $75, $50 and $25, are on sale at Ticketmaster.com, via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines (800) 745-3000 and at STAPLES Center Box Office. Doors at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE open at 4 p.m. PT. The first non-televised undercard fight starts at 5 p.m.