Darchinyan vows to destroy Donaire

MANILA, Philippines - Obsessed with exorcising the nightmare of his only knockout loss, WBC and WBA superflyweight champion Vic Darchinyan has vowed to destroy Nonito Donaire Jr. in their much-awaited rematch that will likely take place in August at a still to be determined venue.

No agreement has been sealed but it appears that both parties are close to making a deal through Darchinyan’s promoter Gary Shaw and Top Rank, which represents Donaire.

After disposing of Manuel Vargas in Las Vegas last January, Donaire said his manager Cameron Dunkin would book fights in May and August. The May bout would be a tune-up for the August outing with a world title on the line. Donaire said he would leave the superflyweight division and campaign as a bantamweight unless a championship fight is arranged to make staying in the 115-pound class worth it.

Darchinyan, 34, is coming off a win on points over Mexico’s Rodrigo Guerrero last month and recently said he can’t wait to exact revenge on Donaire who knocked out the Armenia-born Australian with a single left hook to the jaw in the fifth round to wrest the IBF flyweight crown in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 2007.

“I think about Donaire all the time,” said Darchinyan, quoted by Steve Farhood in Boxing Monthly magazine (April 2010). “I lost and I want revenge. If I fight him, I destroy him and he knows it. I’m too much for him. I made him what he is now.”

Both Donaire and Darchinyan claimed they’re ducking each other. Donaire said he was ready for a rematch two years ago but Darchinyan asked for a ridiculous purse that meant no deal. Lately, Darchinyan has been mouthing off that Donaire is moving up in weight to avoid him.

“I’ve heard talks about a rematch but I’ve heard that for two years now,” said Donaire. “They just have to talk with Cameron and get everything straightened out. I’m ready for whomever Cameron puts in front of me.”

If the rematch is booked, Donaire said he may cancel his May fight and concentrate on training for Darchinyan. His plan is to win two world titles in different classes before the year ends. Once Donaire repeats over Darchinyan to grab his WBA and WBC belts, he hopes to challenge the winner of the April 30 bantamweight unification showdown between WBO champion Fernando Montiel and WBC titlist Hozumi Hasegawa in Tokyo.

Trainer Jonathan Peñalosa was scheduled to leave for San Francisco last night to join Donaire who has started workouts at the Undisputed Gym with conditioning coach Mike Bazzel. In Peñalosa’s travelling party were his brother Dodie Boy and nephew Dodie Boy Jr.

Dodie Boy Jr., 19, will be one of Donaire’s sparmates. The two-time national amateur champion made his pro debut at the Cuneta Astrodome last January, halting Anthony Balubar in two rounds. The Peñalosa pedigree is evident in his moves. Dodie Boy Jr.’s father was a former two-time world champion. His uncle Gerry was also a two-time world champion. And grandfather Carl Peñalosa was a Philippine lightweight and welterweight champion.

Donaire and wife Rachel are building a stable of fighters to manage. So far, they’ve signed up Cebu-born Hawaiian flyweight Bruno Escalante and Dodie Boy Jr. Escalante, 21, drew with Japan’s Takashi Okada in a four-rounder in his pro debut in Las Vegas last February.

Donaire now weighs about 20 pounds over the superflyweight limit but said he won’t find it difficult to scale down for the chance to shut Darchinyan up for good.

“For me, it’s an important fight because he holds two belts,” said Donaire, quoted by Farhood. “My goal is to be called undisputed champion. I’ve always expected a rematch to come. I kind of look at Darchinyan two ways. One, he can be bitter the rest of his life. Two, I want to kick his ass. But I don’t want to wait. It has to be done in a few months. I want to try it out at bantamweight and he doesn’t make sense at that weight because he doesn’t have any belts.”

Darchinyan attempted to take the IBF bantamweight title last July but was outpointed by Joseph Agbeko. His record is 34-2-1, with 27 KOs. His only knockout defeat was to Donaire. Among his victims were Donaire’s brother Glenn and another Filipino Federico Catubay. The draw was with Filipino Z Gorres.

“When I was fighting Donaire, my son was supposed to be born the same day,” said Darchinyan. “The due day was July 7. But it was delayed and he was born on the 19th. He waited for me.” Farhood said now, Darchinyan is waiting for Donaire.

“I want people to remember me,” said Darchinyan. “When I’m old, I want people to say how strong I was in the heavier weights. I told (Bob) Arum I want the fight (against Donaire).”