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© Tom Casino / Showtime Boxing
2009 has already been blessed with two electrifying bouts in boxing’s most stacked division when Andre Berto successfully defended his WBC version of the welterweight crown against Louis Collazo, followed up by Shane Mosley’s complete destruction of Antonio Margarito to claim the WBA title.
It is now just a little over two months into the New Year and we are about to be treated to another potential blockbuster when the hard hitting Vic Darchinyan, 31-1-1 (25), faces popular former WBC Light Flyweight Champion and WBA Interim Super Flyweight Champion Jorge Arce, 51-4-1 (39), this Saturday night.
Darchinyan, who is on a streak of 3-0-1 since his upset KO loss to boxing specialist and IBF/IBO Flyweight Champion Nonito Donaire, has been nothing less than impressive since that night.
The Sydney resident moved up in weight and won not one, but three of boxing’s big four versions of world titles when he defeated Dimitri Kirillov via fifth round KO for the IBF version and Christian Mijares to capture the WBA and WBC world title belts in 2008.
But it seems that despite his success since the Donaire loss, there is always that stigma attached to Darchinyan that haunts his reputation. The rumors of Vic being suspect and a fighter with nothing more than a hard punch with an awkward style.
Darchinyan is certainly wondering what it is he needs to do so he can shake that lone blemish in his career and regain the aura he once had.
On the other side of the ring, Jorge Arce is in “Hunt and Seek” mode, as he long ago became a fighter who’s reputation is based on all-out willingness to do what ever it takes to, win even if it means putting himself in harm’s way.
Arce, who will never be mistaken as a student of defense, has never feared the power of another fighter, in fact he has often been called reckless.
That was perhaps never more evident than when he called out Israel Vasquez last year, the super bantamweight kingpin and one of the sport’s most destructive finishers.
It was a move that many observers thought would be nothing more than “suicide” on Arce’s part.
On one side of the ring, we will have a fighter who has the ability to end any opponent’s night with a single blow, while across from him we will have one of the sport’s most fearless and crowd pleasing stars.
In this bout, there is a question to be asked but not exactly the obvious one. Instead of who is going to win, it seems more appropriate to ask “How long is it going to last”?
Will the “Raging Bull” continue with his winning streak and regain that aura of boxing’s most destructive force under 118 lb or will “Travieso” once again please the crowd with an exciting performance.
I personally can’t wait for Saturday to find out.
