VIC DARCHINYAN-LUIS MALDONADO
IBF FLYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE FIGHT
ADDED TO DIEGO CORRALES-JOSE LUIS CASTILLO 3
SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 2006,
ON SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING 

NEW YORK (April 8, 2006) - In a terrific matchup of unbeaten flyweights, International Boxing Federation (IBF) champioin Vic "The Raging Bull" Darchinyan will defend his crown against IBF No. 8 contender Luis Maldonado Saturday, June 3, 2006.

The 12-round world title fight, whih was announced Saturday by SHOWTIME Sports & Event Programming General Manager Ken Hershman, will precede the highly anticipated rubber match between World Boxing Council (WBC) Lightweight Champion Diego Corrales and former two-time WBC title-holder Jose Luis Castillo. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING world championship doubleheader from the Thomas & Mach Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, will begin at 9 P.M. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).

Darchinyan (25-0, 20 KOs), of Sydney, Australia, by way of Vanadvor, Armenia, is coming off a sensational eight-round TKO over Diosdado Gabi March 3, 2006 on the SHOWTIME boxing series, "ShoBox: The New Generation". A pint-sized powerhouse armed with bone-crunching power, DArchinyan is one of the hardest pound-for-pound hitters in boxing. The Lord of the Flys has won seven consecutive bouts by knowckout. This will be the southpaw's fourth title defense. Darchinyan also holds the International Boxing Organization (IBO) 112-pound belt.

Maldonado (33-0-1, 25 KOs), of Mexicali, Mexico, had a 33-fight winning streak end in his last outing when he boxed to a 12-round draw against slick southpaw boxer Cristian Mijares in a flyweight elimination bout on Feburary 24, 2006. An aggressive, offensive-minded slugger who makes for great fights and never taks a backward step, Maldonado will be the naturally bigger man against Darchinyan. The unbeaten crowd pleaser, who is also the World Boxing Organization (WBO) No. 6 contender, will make his second United States start.

Informatin on how to purchase tickets to this exciting night will be released in the near future!