Darchinyan Returns To Ring May 11 In Texas

On the heels of Tax Day, two-division world champion Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan is looking to file a happy return to the ring when he makes his Top Rank and 2013 debut.

The former flyweight and super flyweight world champion and current Top-Three contender will take on Tijuana toughman Francisco Javier Gallo in a 10-round super bantamweight rumble, on Saturday, May 11, under the stars at the Uni-Trade Stadium in Laredo, TX.

This marks the inaugural boxing event at Uni-Trade Stadium, the new state-of-the-art home of the Laredo Lemurs of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball League.

Darchinyan vs. Gallo will be televised live on UniMás, as the main event of Solo Boxeo Tecate, beginning at 11:00 p.m. ET. The telecast will also feature two-time Méxican Olympian Oscar Valdez in a six-round featherweight battle. Darchinyan and Valdez are managed by Frank Espinoza.

“Vic brings an all-action style of fighting to a very exciting boxing division,” said Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank. “I am looking forward to watching Vic bring it on May 11.”

Darchinyan (38-5-1, 27 KOs), a native of Armenia, who fights out of Sydney, Australia, was a member of Armenia’s 2000 Olympic boxing team. He won his first world title in his 22nd professional bout, knocking out undefeated International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Irene Pacheco in the 11th round of their 2004 battle, ending Pacheco’s five-year reign.

During his own three-year tenure as world champion, Darchinyan successfully defended his tile six times – all by stoppage – against the division’s top contenders.

After losing the title to Nonito Donaire, in 2007, Darchinyan moved up in weight and claimed the IBF junior bantamweight crown, knocking out defending champion Dimitri Kirilov in the fifth round.

He unified the 115 pound world titles in his next fight, knocking out World Boxing Council (WBC) / World Boxing Association (WBA) super flyweight champion Cristian Mijares in the ninth round. He successfully defended his titles three times during his two-year reign as unified super flyweight champion, including an 11th-round stoppage of Méxican icon Jorge Arce.

Darchinyan vacated his titles in mid-2010 to campaign as a bantamweight, defeating former IBF bantamweight champion Yonnhy Perez, Evans Mbamba and Eric Barcelona, while losing competitive decisions to world champions Abner Mares, Joseph Agbeko and Shinsuke Yamanaka.

In his last fight, which took place last September, Darchinyan made his debut as a super bantamweight, winning the NABF title by shellacking previously undefeated prospect Luis Del Valle. Darchinyan is currently world-rated No. 2 by the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and No.3 by the WBC.

Gallo (18-6-1, 10 KOs), of Tijuana, México, is a stocky brawler with an aggressive style, At the age of 29, Gallo is an eight-year pro. At his best, he pressures his opponents and wears them down. He is tough, determined and experienced against good opposition. Over one half of his victories have come by way of knockout.

Valdez (3-0, 3 KOs), of Nogales, México, represented México in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. In last year’s London Games, fighting as bantamweight, he advanced to the quarterfinals before losing to eventual Silver Medalist John Joe Nevin of Ireland, despite Nevin taking a standing 8-count in the final round from a body shot.

Trained by his father, Óscar Sr., Valdez returns to the ring fresh from a fourth-round TKO victory over Carlos Gonzalez on the undercard of the March 16 Tim Bradley-Ruslan Provodnikov battle at The Home Depot Center.

Remaining tickets, priced at $15 (reserved) and $20 (box), and VIP Field Tables priced at $500 and $750 (for 10 people), can be purchased at Uni-Trade Stadium box office only. Vouchers for free general admission tickets are available at all participating Laredo-area Whataburger Restaurants, while supplies last.