Does the Raging Bull still have it? DARCHINYAN VS YAMANAKA, Friday

[aquariusone]

http://youtu.be/5BC4Yo7qj3c
By Sean McDaniel: Former two division world champion Vic Darchinyan (37-4-1, 27 KO’s) will be looking to add a new title in a different division on Friday night against WBC bantamweight champion Shinsuke Yamanaka (15-0-2, 11 KO’s) at the Tokyo International Forum, in Tokyo, Japan.

Darchinyan, 36, hopefully fights a lot better than he did in his last fight against Anselo Moreno, who defeated him by a lopsided 12 round unanimous decision last December in a failed attempt for Darchinyan to try and win the WBA Super World bantamweight title. Darchinyan will now try it again in a fight against an arguably weaker champion in 29-year-old Yamanaka.

Darchinyan should win this fight but if he doesn’t, then he needs to seriously consider moving back down in weight to the super flyweight or flyweight divisions. Darchinyan was dangerous at those weights but he’s been less consistent since moving up to the bantamweight division on a permanent basis in 2010. Darchinyan has lost to Joseph Agbeko, Abner Mares and Moreno at bantamweight.

Yamanaka has a pretty weak resume. He picked up the vacant WBC title in his last fight against Christian Esquivel last November in an 11th round TKO win. However, before that, Yamanaka had been facing mostly Japanese fighters with limited experience and records such as 8-0, 9-3, 9-0.

Yamanaka has fought mostly guys with little in the way of experience. It’s a wonder how Yamanaka was even given a title shot based on the guys he’s fought. But he really looked out in it being Esquivel instead of someone dangerous that could possibly beat him like Fernando Montiel, Agbeko or Darchinyan.

Darchinyan will definitely win this fight unless it’s one of those hometown decisions that we sometimes see in the sport. Darchinyan has the better power if not the better hand speed, and he’s certainly got the much better experience against quality opposition compared to Yamanaka.

AQUA'S NOTE: - I have no idea which TV is showing this and at what time. If you have any idea, please share it.

[rudee]

Smartest thing the Armenian ever did was NOT to get back in the ring with Nonito.... he no fool... he went on to make lotsa money
after he got knocked silly by the Filipino.. wanted no part of him again.

[aquariusone]

Smartest thing the Armenian ever did was NOT to get back in the ring with Nonito.... he no fool... he went on to make lotsa money
after he got knocked silly by the Filipino.. wanted no part of him again.

You are absolutely right, Rudee. Actually, Nonito was extremely motivated when they fought - to avenge his elder brother Glen's loss to Darchinyan.

Vic is that kind of boxer you either hate (because of his style) or love. He is quite entertaining in many ways. When he fights, it is always a suspense. Will he connect with one of his bombs? Or will he get nailed? He is no match for those with great skills, like Mares, Agbeko. I'm surprise though that he KOed Mijares with a left hook and straight left! Exciting fight that was.

[rokko]

hoop://www.firstrowsports.eu/ this is the only link i could find--change the o's to t"s darchinian always gives it all so it should be good--dont know much about his opponent

[rudee]

I think the Armenian is at the stage of his career that he will do some traveling and take on some lesser known opponents
now... he will draw big crowds in other countries fighting the local favorites..
He should go fight in Armenia.. he has a huge Armenian following here in Glendale Ca... its about 70 percent Armenian.
He really draws em in when he fights in L.A.
Very powerful puncher,, but getting on in years and does not take a good punch anymore.
He does put on a good show though.

[Fibroso]

TOKYO -- Japan's Shinsuke Yamanaka defended his WBC bantamweight title on Friday with an unanimous decision over Australia's Vic Darchinyan.
Yamanaka overpowered his opponent in the late rounds at Tokyo International Forum in his first defense of the title he won by beating Mexico's Christian Esquivel in November 2011.
The judges scored the bout 117-111, 116-112, 116-112 in favor of Yamanaka, who improved to 16-0-2 with 11 knockouts. Darchinyan dropped to 37-5-1 with 27 KOs.
"It pretty much went according to plan," the 29-year-old Yamanaka said. "I was able to land some good punches and take the momentum from him as the bout went on."
Darchinyan dominated the early rounds, but Yamanaka opened a cut over his opponent's right eye with a left in the fifth round and the challenger never recovered.
Yamanaka staggered Darchinyan with another left in the 11th round. Darchinyan attempted a desperate comeback in the final round, but was unable to cause any damage to the champion.
In a WBC super featherweight bout, Japan's Takahiro Aoh celebrated his 28th birthday by defending his title with an unanimous decision over Thailand's Terdsak Jandaeng. Aoh improved to 23-2-1 with 10 KOs while Terdsak fell to 46-4-1 with 31 KOs.
The judges scored the bout 116-112, 116-112, 118-110 all in favor of Aoh.

[rudee]

Good work Fib... was wondering who had won this fight.. Vic is pretty much done.. pretty lopsided
scores too... he has made lotsa dough already... time to hang it up... before it gets embarrassing.
Wonder when Nonito fighting again... been a while... I know the Armenian not on his list.