Darchinyan craving another KO

VIC DARCHINYAN believes his insatiable appetite for knockout victories will see him extend his unbeaten record to 29 fights when he defends his IBF flyweight title against Nonito Donaire in Bridgeport, Connecticut, tonight.

The Armenia-born Australian has not been extended the full distance since August 2003, and his last victory over Victor Burgos in March left his opponent hospitalised with serious head injuries for over a month.

With his genuine desire for exciting, attacking fights against the best possible opponents, the 5ft 5in Darchinyan has lit up the lower weight divisions in a way arguably not seen since the mid-1990s reign of Michael Carbajal.

Darchinyan said: “People need to understand it is very important for me to win every fight by knockout. I’m not one-dimensional, but people want action. That’s what they remember and that’s why I fight like I do.”

The 31-year-old Darchinyan says he has an extra incentive because his fight against Donaire’s older brother Glenn ended in a controversial sixth-round technical decision last October.

Referee Tony Weeks deemed Donaire’s broken jaw had come via an unintentional foul on Darchinyan’s part and took the bout to the scorecards. Darchinyan won, but was denied the knockout he craved.

“Glenn Donaire flat out quit on me,” added Darchinyan.

“Nonito is a good kid and definitely a better fighter than his brother, but once he feels my power, he is going to wish he was someplace else. No one can withstand my power.”

Filipino Donaire has won 17 fights against one early career defeat, with 10 wins coming by way of stoppage.

In the co-feature, Connecticut’s Travis Simms (25-0, 19 kos), puts his WBA light-middleweight title on the line against Joachim Alcine (28-0, 18 kos), in a clash of unbeaten prospects.

“My goal is unifying this division, showing them there should only be one champion,” said Simms.