Sharkie's Machine: Darchinyan vs. Arce…Finally


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Sharkie's Machine: Darchinyan vs. Arce…Finally

By Frank Gonzalez Jr., exclusive to Doghouse Boxing (Feb 5, 2009) Photo © Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

Super Flyweight champ Vic Darchinyan (31-1-1, 25 KO’s) and WBA Interim Flyweight titlist Jorge Arce (51-4-2, 39 KO's) will finally get to consume their hatred and exchange pleasantries in the ring on Saturday night at The Pond in Anaheim California .

If you like brawlers, this is your kind of fight. Vic Darchinyan vs. Jorge Arce will be as close to a street fight as any referee would allow. If you’ve seen any of the press conferences or other pre-fight events promoting this fight, one thing is clear, these guys do NOT like each other. It goes back a few years from when Arce delivered two beatings to Vic’s friend Hussein Hussein back in 2005. Though Darchinyan continually called out Arce, the fight never happened. Now, it’s finally going to happen and Arce would do well to employ the same elusiveness on defense in the ring as he’s shown in the last couple of years avoiding fighting Darchinyan. Some will say it was Darchinyan avoiding Arce. Who cares? This fight is finally going to happen on February 7th on Showtime. Don’t miss it!

A couple of years ago, the charismatic Jorge Arce was a big rising star who would enter the ring in his black cowboy hat to the cheers of his adoring fans. One day in 2007 he ran into another cocky fighter named Christian Mijares, who used smooth boxing skills to pick Arce apart, as easy as taking candy from a baby. I couldn’t find a round to give Arce in that one. He showed no kind of defense, terrible timing and was completely outclassed to the point that one had to wonder if at only 28 years old, he was on his way down. He kind of faded from the lime light after that but quietly put together a string of five wins over pedestrian opposition. Now, he enters the big stage again in what will likely be the toughest fight of his life.

Darchinyan recently dispatched Mijares by KO 9 in a totally one sided fight that saw Mijares overwhelmed and outgunned all night by a very controlled Darchinyan who used his aggression wisely and to good effect.

Just because Darchinyan knocked out Mijares, who destroyed Arce, doesn’t mean Darchinyan automatically beats Arce. We recently saw Shane Mosley, a fair underdog, completely dominate the heavily favored Margarito and win by an astonishing KO in 9. Margarito TKO’d Miguel Cotto, who had previously beaten Shane Mosley before losing to Margarito. Boxing truly is the theater of the unexpected, where anything can happen. I suspect Darchinyan will win this fight by KO if he approaches Arce the way he did Mijares, where Darchinyan actually out-boxed the boxer and then beat the hell out of him. I think Darchinyan catches Arce before Arce ever catches him.

Arce has lost by KO twice in his career. Darchinyan’s only loss (to Nonito Donaire of the Philippines ) was by KO, though it was recorded as a TKO. I saw that fight and Darchinyan was knocked out. After the ref waved it off as a TKO loss, Darchinyan protested, saying he wasn’t knocked out. It took five rounds for Nonito Donaire to dispose of Darchinyan. Nonito Donaire’s win over Darchinyan avenged his brother Glenn’s loss to Vic two fights earlier. Darchinyan has had his most trouble against Filipinos, as he struggled to a Draw against Z Gorres in early 2008.

Love him or hate him, Vic Darchinyan is the closest thing to a unified Champion in all of boxing in this era too many belt holding “titlists” as opposed to Unified Champions. Darchinyan currently holds the WBA, WBC and IBF Super Flyweight titles. Were Darchinyan to fight WBO Super Fly titlist Fernando Montiel—the winner would possess all four of the “major titles” and have a fair reason to call himself “The Undisputed Champion” of the 118 pound division. If Arce were to beat Darchinyan; that would be a huge upset and propel Arce right back into the spotlight.

Unlike Pay-Per-View fights, the under-card features a potentially good match up as “Kid Diamond” Almazbek Raiymkulov (27-1-1, 15 KO’s) takes on Antonio DeMarco (19-1-1, 13 KO’s) for the vacant NABO Lightweight title.

Enjoy the fireworks!

Comments, Questions, can be emailed to dshark87@hotmail.com.