The Boxing Weekend: Vic Darchinyan Headlines
By Geno McGahee
SHOBOX
This Saturday, the charismatic super flyweight power-puncher, Vic Darchinyan, 33-2-1, 27 KO’s, will defend his WBC and WBA Titles against challenger, Rodrigo Guerrero, 13-1-1, 9 KO’s. Some of you may be asking just who Rodrigo Guerrero is…and you are in the majority. Guerrero has only had fifteen fights and the only fighter of note on his record is a shopworn Luis Maldonado, a fight he won via unanimous decision. In his last fight, he stopped Rey Lopez, who brought in the impressive record of 0-0-1. He is an unknown coming into this Saturday’s SHOBOX main event.
Darchinyan is a southpaw with a big punch and can certainly draw a crowd. He has been in and out of the pound for pound listings, and is currently on the outskirts after a disappointing defeat to Joseph Agbeko for the IBF Bantamweight title. He rebounded with a squashing of Tomas Rojas in his last fight and comes into this one with a full head of steam.
Darchinyan has been featured on Showtime on several occasions and has rebounded well from his sole knockout defeat to Nonito Donaire in 2007. We will have to see if Guerrero can take a punch because there will be many hard ones thrown in his direction.
HBO’s Boxing After Dark
Also on Saturday night, HBO will feature a light welterweight unification. IBF Light Welterweight Champ, Juan Urango, 22-2-1, 17 KO’s, comes off his loss to Welterweight Champ, Andre Berto, to defend his title against WBC Light Welterweight Champ, Devon Alexander, 19-0, 12 KO’s.
Urango is a power-puncher with a lot of heart. In his last fight, he went to war with Randall Bailey, getting off the floor to stop his challenger in the 11th round and kept the IBF crown. Urango was too small and slow to be effective against the true welterweight Berto and also lost when he was outslugged by Ricky Hatton in 2007. He comes into this unification looking for the knockout.
Alexander proved his ability with a stoppage of Junior Witter in his last fight, claiming the WBC Title. He also out-boxed veteran, DeMarcus Corley, taking a decision in 2008. Urango promises to be his toughest opponent to date, and fireworks should be expected come fight night.