(Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
The Undisputed super-flyweight champion and No. 9 rated best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Vic Darchinyan, is feeling confident these days as he prepares for his next title challenge.
Add his name to the long list of fighters who would like to win the lottery by fighting Manny Pacquaio.
Darchinyan has an upcoming showdown against Ghana's Joseph Agbeko—who holds one of those worthless alphabet belts—in sunrise Florida next month on July 11.
A victory over Agbeko would award Darchinyan his fifth major world title belt, and would also make him a three-division world champion, charting him on a steady course in his quest for all-time boxing greatness.
If it's true that an overwhelming desire to succeed, a huge ego, and a champion's confidence are the main ingredients needed in the recipe for success, then Darchinyan's well on his way to the summit.
In no other fighter are these qualities more apparent than in this 33-year-old boxer who seems to be now entering his prime boxing years.
Darchinyan is a tough little Armenian born Aussie who is also a highly entertaining fighter. His fight record is 32-1-1, with 26 KO’s and he possesses an exciting "go for broke" style with crippling power, especially in his left hook
The one and only blemish on Darchinyans excellent record is a one punch left hook KO from Nonito Donaire—in July of 2007.
As a result when he squared off with Cristian Mijares three fights later in Carson, California on Nov. 1 2008 many fight fans saw Darchinyan as a definite underdog
He proved his critics were dead wrong by administering a one sided beating to Mjares which started from the opening bell, flooring him in round one.
Darchinyan completely dominated the next eight rounds, ultimately stopping his battered opponent in the ninth.
Darchinyan then became a new man on a fresh new mission, and he served notice to all others in the division by thoroughly destroying—the dangerous but fading—Jorge Arce in his very next outing.
In an ESPN interview recently, he stated that his intentions are to keep moving up the ladder until he meets Manny Pacquiao.
Showing uncommon respect, Darchinyan stated that his reasoning for wanting to fight Pacman is not that he thinks he can beat him, but that it has more to do with the greatness of the Filipino superstar.
Echoing the words of many top contenders before him Darchinyan stated, he (Pacquiao) is the best, and I want to fight the best!
"Maybe I will stay for a year at bantamweight and unify the titles, but eventually I want to move up and to win more world championships at different weights," Darchinyan said. "I want to go down in the history of boxing.
"People are talking trash because I am moving up to bantamweight saying that my power isn't going to be enough, but that's why I want to be in the US and be more focused on my training and show the world my power is more than enough for bantamweight," Darchinyan said.
"Everyone knows I've got a lot of power in my left, now during my sparring I'm more focused on my right, which is very powerful now too; also, my sparring partners are saying that I am punching much harder now with my right." stated Darchinyan
Agbeko, also known as "King-Kong", has built a reputation as one of the best in the bantamweight division with his only defeat coming against an alphabet champion named Wladimir Sidorenko.
The 28 year old Agbeko was inactive for a year before defending his title on December 11, 2008. In a fight that had been repeatedly postponed, he defeated William Gonzalez by majority decision.
Darchinyan, who will not vacate any of his three flyweight titles until after the Agbeko fight, is striving for a permanent place in boxing history.
"I want people to remember me, not only at the time while I'm boxing, but after I retire, I want to be one of the best of all time."
Darchinyan's manager, Elias Nassar, revealed that his fighter is "poised to challenge," and many doors will soon be opened to him for "multimillion-dollar" events.
First things first though, of course, that's providing he beats King Kong Agbeko.
"He looks incredible with his speed and power and extra weight, I'm actually very scared for Agbeko," Nassar said.
"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life." —Muhammad Ali
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