Darchinyan is sucking up to his home fans by entering to some percussive, danceable Armenian folk music (which he NEVER does ordinarily). It's quite a production. He even has a flag girl.
South African anthem. Hey! I recognize that trainer!!! Nic Durandt. He worked with Silence Mabuza. Good trainer, although he looks like a roadie for Whitesnake.
That was a pretty moving duet. Sounds the call to come together, and united we shall stand. Let us live and strive for freedom in South Africa - our land!!!! **** yeah, I'm on board! Stamp my passport! What could possibly go wrong?
The Armenian anthem is an instrumental. That's a good thing. Armenians can't sing for **** (which I know from watching 30 minutes of Armenian Idol commercials in the build-up)
Oh good the ringside physician is Dr. Hamlet Bakgoyahoyalev. He graduated cumma sum laude in the same class as Shaw Hi.
This ring announcer is failing. It's pretty awkward. After a lukewarm introduction for Mbamba he sets the burner to high but then skids a bit: "So, we go!!!! And into the red corner...uh we travel!! With Angelo Hyder. And...uh (checks card) "
Round 1 Darchinyan comes straight forward as expected, pushing his right jab into Mbamba's face and looping some high lefts in behind it. Mbamba keeps a tight face guard favored by African boxers, and circles Darchinyan. A body hook that mostly landed on the arms physically knocks Mbamba down! Wow! Mbamba has terrible balance or Darchinyan's power is on point today. Darchinyan backs Mbamba to the ropes and tees off with forceful straight combos, his arms pumping in succession above chest level. Mbamba circles to his right and tries to duck under the right jab of Darchinyan to grab him low, but gets thumped with overhand lefts across the trapezius. 10-8 Darchinyan
:nod His demeanor and that first round send a very clear message. THIS IS MY HOUSE! :fire (and apparently in my house we don't like South Africans)
Round 2 Mbamba is hurt by a big rainbow overhand left behind the right jab. Darchinyan repeats the combo with some success while chasing Mbamba across the ring. Now Mbamba grows some nerve and starts to fish with his own southpaw 1-2, and pushes forward with it. Darchinyan uses some jerky but effective head movement, quickly folding his neck to the side to let Mbamba flail above him. Mbamba is knocked back into the ropes and Darchinyan throws low. The referee interrupts and waggles a forefinger in Darchinyan's face in reproach. Mbamba is loading up on his own overhand left - very similar looking to Darchinyan's actually - and just falling completely in with it. It's almost as if his goal is to get close enough to grab rather than make a serious effort to land. Darchinyan tries to mug him against the ropes but is a bit too wild and impatient. 20-17 Darchinyan