Gary Shaw of Gary Shaw Productions wishes to congratulate IBO bantamweight champion Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan (37-3-1, 27 KOs) for his dominant 12-round victory over Evans Mbamba (18-2, 9 KOs) at the Karen Demirchyan Sports Complex in Yerevan, Armenia, on Saturday.
Fighting as a professional for the first time in his native Armenia (in the first-ever professional boxing event ever held in the country), Darchinyan delighted over 12,000 screaming fans by battering the iron-jawed African for the duration of the contest.
The judges’ scores were 120-107 on two cards and 119-107 on the third.
“Vic is a superstar on the level of The Beatles in his homeland,” said Shaw, his proud promoter. “On the morning of the fight, he asked for Gatorade, which they don’t have in Armenia, and someone drove three hours just to get some for him. In fact, the President of the country was at the fight!”
In defeating Mbamba, Darchinyan successfully defended the IBO Bantamweight Championship he won by knocking out former IBF champ Yonnhy Perez in five rounds last April. He also maintains the mandatory WBA #1 position.
“From the day I started working with him, Vic has always wanted to fight in his homeland and I’m very happy he finally got that opportunity,” Shaw continued. “He’s a great champion and he’s been a terrific ambassador for Armenia and it’s just a great story to have the country’s number-one hero finally fight at home.”
Shaw says an announcement will be made shortly about Darchinyan’s next move.
Gary Shaw Productions/ACE Boxing Sign Australian Future Star Joel Brunker to Promotional Agreement
Gary Shaw of Gary Shaw Productions is proud to announce the he and elite Australian boxing promoter Angelo Di Carlo of ACE Boxing Promotions have signed a co-promotional agreement with 25-year-old Sydney, Australia, featherweight Joel Brunker.
Brunker (20-0, 13 KOs) is the current WBO Oriental Featherweight Champion and ranked #6 in the world by the WBO. He won the vacant Australian Title by shutting out Ernie Gonzales and defended it twice before moving on to win the WBO Youth World Title in September 2010 against Carlos Lopez.
As an amateur, Brunker went 106-19 while competing in the 2004 Olympics; he was also the NSW Championship six times, the Australian Champion four times and won gold medals at the Arafura and Oceania Games.
He caught Shaw’s eye recently on the undercard of IBF Middleweight Champion Daniel Geale’s victory over Eromosele Albert at the Derwent Entertainment Centre in Tasmania. Fighting in front of 5000 of his countrymen, Brunker scored a hard-fought decision over Reynaldo Belandres of the Philippines.
“I was so impressed with him,” admitted Shaw. “He was in a very tough fight, but you could see he’s going to be a top featherweight and will soon be a world champion. It was a tremendous victory for Joel and I’m very happy to be working with him and with my co-promotional partner Angelo Di Carlo.”
Shaw says that he and Di Carlo will give the fighter a week off and then sit down and plot their next move, which will involve steady movement up the world rankings.
Lamare vs. Florez – A Champion’s Showcase Or An Underdog’s Last Hurrah?
In a big night of boxing at the Stade de l’Est in Saint Denis on the beautiful Indian Ocean island of Reunion (a French overseas department), reigning WBF womens world lightwelterweight champion Myriam Lamare (18-3, 10 KO’s) will make the second defense of her world title against the experienced former world champion Lely Luz Florez (16-5, 7 KO’s) from Columbia on September 9.
Local favorite Lamare captured the WBF belt in 2009 with a dominating decision win over Ann Saccurato (the WBF 2009 Female Fight Of The Year!). She made her first title defence a successful one when she thoroughly dominated and stopped highly ranked Lucia Morelli from Italy last November in the sixth round of their bout. Morelli has since won the WIBF lightweight world title and is still considered to be one of the best in the game. From 2004 to 2006, the 36-years old Lamara was the WBA lightwelterweight championess, defending that title five times. She held the WIBF strap briefly as well. Currently residing in Marseille, France, she is known for her hard and accurate punching. Before turning professional in 2003, she won European and world titles on the amateur level. The September 9 show will not only feature Lamare in the main event, she and her company LM Sport Event will also promote the event.
Despite her success and her already proven class, Myriam Lamara should not make the mistake to overlook the always tough Lely Luz Florez, 27. The Columbian packs quite a punch herself and won the WBC interim belt at lightwelterweight in 2009 with a stunning first round knockout over then-unbeaten Chris Namus. She went on to challenge full WBC champ Monica Silvina Acosta last year but fell short. Florez lost a razor thin split decision in the champion’s home country of Argentina. She is best known, however, for her courageous effort against former featherweight queen Ina Menzer in 2006. While losing a clear cut decision, Florez fought her heart out and proved to be worthy contender.
Going into their September 9 fight, there is no doubt that Myriam Lamare is the favorite. She is the champion, has more big-fight experience and will have the support of the locals. She is regarded as the better boxer and harder puncher. However, this might be the last opportunity for Florez to make a big statement in the boxing world and become world champion once again. She will surely be motivated and is always dangerous because of her power.
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