© Tom Casino / Showtime Boxing

Gone last night at BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, FL were former fly and super flyweight world champion Vic Darchinyan's usual advantages of height, strength and power as the Aussie hard man moved up to bantam to challenge IBF titlist Joseph Agbeko.

Filling the void was the taller, stronger and bigger punching Agbeko, who had refused to be intimidated by Darchinyan's trash talk during the long media campaign leading up to last night's clash.

Agbeko also refused to be moved a single inch by the force of Darchinyan in the ring, handling the southpaw challenger's bull rushes with good footwork and counters, with a solid chin that held firm whenever the overhand lefts and right hooks of Darchinyan connected.

The champion's awkward, odd stance and mastery of angles presented Darchinyan a difficult target to hit but what really gave the "Raging Bull" trouble was Agbeko's lead right hand.

Thrown with perfect timing from a forward leaning crouch, Agbeko simply nailed the oncoming Darchinyan countless times with the right hand, particularly after the challenger's eyes became cut and swollen.

The warrior from Ghana made a mockery of Darchinyan's constant pre-fight vows to produce a KO and defeated a fighter that many considered one of the sport's pound for pound best by scores of 117-111 and 114-113 twice.

Agbeko lived up to his "King Kong" nickname while improving to 27-1 (22). Darchinyan loses for just the second time to fall to 32-2-1 (26).

The undercard featured three world title eliminators.

Former IBF cruiserweight king Steve Cunningham, 22-2 (11), won the right to rematch IBF titlist Tomasz Adamek, who also won this evening in a title defense in New Jersey, by outboxing ex-WBC beltholder Wayne Braithwaite, 23-4 (19), enroute to posting a unanimous decision.

Lightweight Antonio DeMarco, 22-1-1 (16), annexed the top WBC spot by KO'ing Anges Adjaho, 25-2 (14), in the ninth and welter Ivan Kirpa, 24-1 (15), posted a wide points verdict over Miguel Angel Rodriguez, 29-4 (23), to win a WBC welterweight eliminator.

Share/Save | (0) comments | Add your comments
Click to read more boxing articles by Richard Eberline

Discuss in Boxing Forum

---

Related Boxing Articles...

• Showtime Boxing: Darchinyan Moving Up To Bantam Against IBF Champ Agbeko

  In what will be a brutal battle of pure power punchers, Vic “Raging Bull’’ Darchinyan will attempt to become a world champion in a third weight class when he challenges >
  
  

• Don King Boxing: Agbeko Predicts KO Over Perez

  International Boxing Federation bantamweight champion Joseph King Kong Agbeko has boldly predicted he will score a knockout victory over undefeated IBF No. 1-ranked mandatory challenger Yonnhy “El Colombiano” Perez when >
  
  

• Boxing Result: Yonnhy Perez Upsets Joseph Agbeko For IBF Title

  

  © Tom Casino / Showtime Boxing Yonnhy Perez made the most of his first world title fight by knocking off reigning IBF bantam titlist tonight at Treasure Island Casino in Las >
  
  

• Boxing Weights: Joseph Agbeko vs. Vic Darchinyan

  

  © Tom Casino / Showtime Boxing Ahead of the big Don King boxing show tonight at BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, FL, the principal boxers all weighed in yesterday. IBF Bantamweight Championship Joseph Agbeko: >
  
  

• Showtime Boxing Goes Viral With Agbeko, Darchinyan Videos

  Showtime hosts an assortment of videos that highlight the upcoming Joseph Agbeko vs. Vic Darchinyan IBF bantamweight title fight taking place this Saturday live on Showtime at 9PM ET, delayed >
  
  

• Vic Darchinyan Commits To Lifetime Contract With Gary Shaw Boxing

  World super flyweight champion Vic "Raging Bull" Darchinyan and his manager Elias Nassar announced today, from Darchinyan's Las Vegas-based training camp,?that they will be extending their relationship with promoter Gary >
  
  

• Showtime Boxing: Darchinyan Arrives In US For Agbeko Clash

  Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan arrived in the U.S. late last week to finish training as he looks to become a world champion in a third weight class when he challenges >
  
  

• Boxing Quotes: Joseph Agbeko vs. Vic Darchinyan

  Two of the hardest-hitting boxers in the world participated in a media conference call Tuesday to discuss their upcoming world title fight on Saturday, July 11, live on Showtime at >
  
  

• Boxing Preview: Joseph Agbeko vs. Yonnhy Perez

  Tonight at Treasure Island Casino in Las Vegas, NV, IBF bantam champ Joseph Agbeko faces the challenge of Yonnhy Perez in what should turn out to be an epic battle. Agbeko, >
  
  

• Showtime Boxing: Darchinyan Vows To KO Agbeko For IBF Title

  

  © Tom Casino / Showtime Boxing Due to travel complications, two-division world champion Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan was unable to participate in Tuesday’s media workout in South Florida with his opponent, >
  
  

---

Boxing News Tags: Anges Adjaho, Antonio DeMarco, Boxing Results, Don King Productions, Gary Shaw Productions, Ivan Kirpa, Joseph Agbeko, Miguel Rodriguez, Showtime Boxing, Steve Cunningham, Vic Darchinyan, Wayne Braithwaite