Promoter says Darchinyan aching for rematch with Donaire

Gary Shaw, promoter of reigning WBC and WBA Super World super flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan of Australia, on Wednesday said the "Raging Bull" is aching for a rematch with old tormentor Nonito Donaire, Jr. In an audio interview with 8CountNews, Shaw declared that the camp of the Armenian-born fighter will work for a return bout with Donaire, who famously knocked him out in their 2007 encounter down at the flyweight division. But before the 33-year-old Darchinyan can get his hands on the "Filipino Flash," he has to hurdle the challenge of Mexican Tomas Rojas first in his defense of the two belts on Dec. 12 at the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, California. "Darchinyan has to beat Tomas Rojas on Dec. 12 and after that, we want to go up against Nonito Donaire," Shaw told 8CountNews' Brad Cooney.

Donaire and Darchinyan first crossed paths on Dec. 23, 2007 with the Bohol-born fighter, then a heavy underdog, shaming the then undefeated IBO and IBF champion via a fifth round KO. The victory was awarded Ring Magazine’s "Upset of the Year" and "Knockout of the Year" for 2007 and has become Donaire’s ticket to fame. The match-awaited rematch, though, did not materialize and the two went their separate ways. The 27-year-old Donaire defended the flyweight crowns three times before climbing to super flyweight and winning the WBA interim title with a unanimous decision triumph over an overweight Rafael Concepcion of Panama last August. For his part, Darchinyan moved up to the 115-lb division after his loss to Donaire and became its undisputed champion. He made an attempt at IBF champion Joseph Agbeko’s strap up at bantamweight last July but lost out a decision. Shaw said Darchinyan has been incorrectly tagged as dodging a rematch with Donaire. "He’s not running. He wants that fight with Nonito Donaire," the promoter said. Donaire has earlier expressed his willingness to take on Darchinyan for a second bout but only if the latter "wouldn’t ask for the moon" as before. If ever, though, Donaire-Darchinyan II will likely have to wait by middle or second half of next year as Donaire is set to stake his WBA interim superfly crown against Gerson Guerrero of Mexico on Feb. 13 at the Las Vegas Hilton. - GMANews.TV