Darchinyan crosshairs set on Gorres, Peňalosa
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 11/20/2008 1:24 PM
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Following his impressive win against Mexican hotshot Cristian Mijares, undisputed 115-lb champ Vic Darchinyan of Australia is setting his sights on two Filipino stars.
According to Gary Shaw, Darchinyan’s US promoter, they are looking forward to at least one bout against a Filipino after a date is set for the clash versus Mexico’s Jorge Arce.
“After we beat Arce, maybe a Z Gorres rematch or maybe Gerry (Penalosa),” said Shaw in an e-mail to Manila-based sports Website Sportsnews.ph.
Fans cannot wait to see Darchinyan slug it out with Arce. Shaw, however, clarified that no definite plans have been put up yet.
The promoter said that he hopes Top Rank’s Bob Arum will set up Arce against Darchinyan.
“I think the fans would absolutely love [that],” said Shaw.
Darchinyan may have a personal reason for wanting to get a crack again at Gorres following the IBF super flyweight eliminator in Cebu that ended in a controversial draw earlier this year.
Peňalosa, on the other hand, is Darchinyan’s personal choice.
“I want to fight only those with belts. If Arce is not available I want to fight Penalosa,” Darchinyan told Sportsnews in a telephone interview recently.
‘Darchinyan’s the type I like’
Peňalosa, the reigning WBO bantamweight king, said he is open to the idea of facing Darchinyan despite the fact that they come from two different promoters.
“He’s the type of fighter I want to fight. He’s really a warrior and will stay in front of his opponent and look for a knockout. This is the kind of fights I want to have before I retire,” said Penalosa in Filipino when he guested on dzSR Sports Radio’s “Sports Chat” on Tuesday.
Should a title bout materialize between Darchinyan and Peňalosa or the Raging Bull against Gorres, it would be a winner take-all fight.
Darchinyan currently holds the unified super fly belts for the IBF, WBA and WBC. He knocked out Mijares in the ninth round in October.
Peňalosa, meanwhile, last fought to defend his WBO bantamweight crown in April this year against Thailand’s Ratanachai Sor Vorapin.
Gorres won via unanimous decision during a 10-round contest against Nick Otieno in Cebu in May this year.
