Vic-Nonito may not fight again

Darchinyan losing patience waiting for Nonito


Vic Darchinyan says he is losing patience with old foe Nonito Donaire to sign for a rematch.

Fresh off the first 12-round decision of his career, Darchinyan said he wasn't prepared to wait much longer for his mooted rematch with the Filipino, the first man to beat him as a professional.

"I don't want to mention his name any more, I want to go up and fight bigger champions," Darchinyan said after . inflicting a brutal beating on Mexican Rodrigo Guerrero on a historic night for Australian boxing.

The Sydney fighter completely dominated the contest in Rancho Mirage, California, but gutsy Guerrero somehow survived and the champion had to settle for the first 12-round points win of his professional career.

Darchinyan, 34 (33-2-1, 27 KOs), earned the judges' decisions by scores of 120-108, 118-110 and 117-111.

He suffered the rare problem of losing the skin off the knuckles of his left hand after continually pounding it on Guerrero's battered head.

"His left knuckles are all worn, it's like he's been punching a punching bag with no gloves on ... never in boxing have I seen anyone wear the skin off their knuckles from hitting someone so much," Darchinyan's trainer Angelo Hyder told AAP.

In the first American pay television promotion featuring two Australians in the major bouts, Sydneysider Lenny Zappavigna also scored a 12-round unanimous points win, defeating Venezuelan-based Ecuadoran Fernando Angulo.

Zappavigna, 22 (23-0 15 KOs), dominated the early rounds, but was forced to dig deep after suffering injuries near both eyes on his way to collecting the vacant IBO lightweight boxing world title.

Some members of the crowd Agua Caliente Casino booed the decision after Zappavigna won by two scores of 116-111 and another of 114-113.

While Zappavigna's injuries required some stitching, Darchinyan was amazed by the durability of his unheralded opponent.

"I was surprised how many big punches he was taking, I just kept feeling my knuckles on his head," Darchinyan told AAP.

"From the first round I threw many big punches and I thought he was going to go down.

"I've never fought a kid that takes those punches and stayed in front of me."


Darchinyan, who lost in his only fight at bantamweight against Joseph Agbeko last year, said he would love to fight Yonnhy Perez, the man who took the IBF bantamweight title from Agbeko last October.

Guerrero, whose record dropped to 13-2 (9 KOs) was an unknown quantity coming into the fight and the Darchinyan camp had been unable to access any footage of the challenger.

He tried to take the fight up to Darchinyan but lacked the power and technique to worry the champion.

Living up to his promise to be patient against the Mexican mystery man, Darchinyan threw his power punches sparingly in the opening rounds.

However in the second half of the fight he hit the Mexican almost at will.

Zappavigna, who turned professional after winning a lightweight bronze medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games said his gruelling bout with Angulo was the toughest fight of his career.

"He's a tough boy, it was awesome, I enjoyed it," Zappavigna told AAP.

The Sydneysider said it was hard for him to see after blood dripped into his eyes, but he just concentrated on taking the fight to his opponent.

7 Mar 2010



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damn shame.he mentioned this in the post fight interview.Nonito looks good and may have Vics measure but i would of liked to if Vic could square the ledger.money talks hopefully we get to see a second fight.