Darchinyan Knocks out Maldonado

LAS VEGAS, NV - Vic Darchinyan is a little man with a huge punch and yesterday Australia's world flyweight champion showed it on the world stage, knocking out previously unbeaten Mexican Luis Maldonado.

Australia's best fighter stunned the crowd at the Thomas and Mack Centre, trading heavy shots with the rugged Mexican before finally overwhelming him in the eighth round to retain his IBF flyweight title.

When referee Joe Cortez rescued Maldonado from Darchinyan's relentless onslaught it was the Mexican fighter's first loss in 35 starts.

The undefeated Darchinyan scored his 26th win and his 21st KO. All five of his world title bouts have ended inside the distance and he looks a good chance to emulate his friend Kostya Tszyu in unifying all the world titles in his 51kg weight division.

Both fighters promised fireworks and both delivered, trading heavy shots in the opening three rounds until Maldonado was cut above the right eye in round four.

Darchinyan, a Sydney Olympian, dropped the Mexican in round six and although Maldonado bravely fought back, he was taking a beating when the referee intervened midway through round eight.

The bout was scheduled as the main supporting bout to the third war between lightweight stars Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo. But after Castillo failed to make the weight for the bout, Darchinyan's title defence was elevated to the main event on a huge pay per view card throughout the world.

"It was a great chance to show the world my power," Darchinyan said. "I put on a good show and hopefully this win against a very good Mexican opponent will give me more fans. I hope my supporters in Australia liked what they saw because I have many more world titles to win.

"I feel I can beat the champions now in three more weight classes all the way up to super-bantamweight if I have to."

Darchinyan's trainer Jeff Fenech implored Australian boxing fans to support the Armenian-born southpaw who has much more success attracting fans overseas.

"We just saw 30,000 people turn up to see Anthony Mundine-Danny Green in a non-title fight that no one outside Australia could care less about," Fenech said.

"Vic Darchinyan is an outstanding, undefeated world champion who has crushed everyone put before him. He deserves to get recognition as a global boxing star."

Sonny Banerjee
Editor-in-chief

Information from other publications and wire services was used in the compilation of this report.