Gary Shaw Productions proudly extends warm greetings to new Shaw Team member, southpaw slugger Vic Darchinyan. Vic comes to us from Sydney, Australia, by way of Vanadvor, Armenia. He is the reigning IBF/IBO flyweight title holder with a record of 25-0, with 20 KO’s, and is eager to campaign in the United States against the best competition.

“I want to show the world I’m the best flyweight out there,” Vic says confidently.

Darchinyan began boxing at the age of eight in Vanadvor and after joining the Armenia junior amateur boxing circuit was age champion from the age of 12 to 16. He was the Armenian representative in the World Title Junior Tournament in Turkey in 1993. After relocating to Russia to further his amateur career, he was invited by Ukraine in 1996 to be its representative in amateur tournaments. Vic returned home in 1997 and joined the Armenian army, continuing his boxing training during his two year commitment.

In 1998, Vic represented Armenia in world class tournaments such as the Goodwill Games, the European Cup, and the World Cup, finishing first in the European Cup for the first of two straight years. That year he was honored with a prestigious award as one of Armenia’s Top 10 Sporting Heroes, ranking number three. In 1999, he reached the quarterfinals at the World Amateur Championships in Houston, Texas. Vic’s performance in America showed potential that attracted the attention of managers and promoters but Vic wanted to fulfill his dream of being an Olympian. In the 2000 games in Sydney, Darchinyan reached his goal and advanced to the quarterfinals, acquitting himself and Armenia well with his performance. Vic finished his amateur career with a record of 152-18.

His current trainer, former three time champion Jeff Fenech, saw Darchinyan’s progression in the 2000 games and convinced Vic to remain in Australia and turn pro, which he did on November 3, 2000.

From that date until December 16, 2004, Darchinyan fought exclusively in Australia, reeling off victory after power punching victory. Finally on that night, in Hollywood, Florida,  the years of hard work and perseverance paid off as he took the IBF flyweight crown with an 11th round TKO over previously unbeaten, [30-0, 23 KO‘s], defending titlist Irene Pacheco. Pacheco had previously made seven successful defenses of his crown before taking on the powerful Darchinyan, and was dropped in the 10th and the 11th before his corner asked for an end to the carnage at 0:44 of round 11.

Four months later, Vic defended the IBF crown and added the IBO belt with an eighth round TKO over Mzukisi Sikali in Homebush Bay, Australia. Fighting off a cut over his left eye in the sixth, Vic continued to be the aggressor and caught Sikali in the eighth with a right uppercut. Staggered, Sikali turned his back and indicated that he had had enough at 2:28 of the round.

Last August, Darchinyan defended his title for the second time with a fifth round TKO over Jair Jimenez in Sydney. Jimenez was floored in the fourth, and after being rocked with a barrage of shots in the fifth, the referee called a halt to the fight at 2:23 of round five.

At this point in his career, Vic was 24-0 with 19 KO’s, but despite his success in the ring, he hungered for recognition on the Big Stage, with opportunities for television exposure and larger purses. So, after being courted by other promotional opportunities, Darchinyan signed with Gary Shaw. Both Darchinyan and his trainer Fenech were impressed with Shaw and confident that the move would put them in position to achieve their goals.

“I talked to him [Shaw] for about a half hour and I liked his attitude,” Vic said in surprisingly good English. “I liked the way he talked. I liked how he likes his boxers. He gets all the best fighters. I want to fight the best and I want to be popular. He promised that he would do those things for me.”

Fenech added, “Now that we have Gary we’ll have an opportunity to show the world who he [Vic] is. He’s delighted [to be with Gary]. Gary’s a helluva guy. He works with his boys and that’s what you want.”

The dividends were immediate as Vic appeared on “ShoBox: The New Generation” on Showtime in his next fight on March 3, 2006. Fighting at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, Darchinyan was matched with WBC #2/IBF #3 contender Diosdado Gabi, a worthy challenger trained by Freddie Roach with a 26-2-1 [19] record. The Filipino Gabi entered the ring with a 12 fight winning streak.

The fight was close in the early going, but Vic’s heavier punches seemed to turn the tide in the seventh. Suddenly, Darchinyan landed a crunching left cross on the point of Gabi’s chin and the challenger crumpled to the canvas. He gamely rose to his feet but was in no condition to continue and the referee stopped it at 2:42 of round eight.

With his one punch knockout victory, Vic served notice on the boxing world that there was superstar looming on the flyweight horizon. However, both Darchinyan and Fenech feel that he has the potential to be even better.

Fenech pointed out that Vic had only 3 ½ weeks of preparation for the Gabi fight. He also said that he was working with Darchinyan on his footwork, hoping to improve his counterpunching. Then he stated the obvious:

“But oh he can punch. He can punch.”

“I made some mistakes with Gabi, looking for the knockout in the first round,” Vic said. “Gabi took punches like no one I ever fought. I hit him with good punches and he kept coming. With more preparation, I will show better.”

Both fighter and trainer are interested in fighting the other title holders to unify the division, but they are particularly interested in WBC interim flyweight champion, Jorge Arce from Mexico.

“We went to Mexico specifically to watch him fight,” Fenech said, “Arce spoke to us and said we could get together, and we go back home and hear that Arce is talking about fighting Brian Villoria who… fights at 108. We hope we can make a deal after all.”

Arce has name recognition in America and would make an ideal opponent for Darchinyan, but there are others that Vic could fight on his way to superstardom. He could fight Villoria himself, if Brian moves up to 112, campaign to unify the flyweight division by taking on the other belt holders, or Vic could move up to jr. bantamweight and face names such as Martin Castillo, Luis Perez, and Fernando Montiel.

“I sparred with heavier guys in America and I could see that I’m as good as them,” Vic said, considering potential opponents. “I know my punch is much stronger when I’m heavier.”

As he prepared to return home to his family, father Rubik, mother Hranush, sister, Liana, and fiancée, Olga Stovboun, Vic said that he enjoyed his trip to America and was looking forward to his next visit.

“I loved the food, you know?” The personable Darchinyan laughed.

Back home in Sydney, Vic enjoys going out with Olga, listening to music, dancing, table tennis, and spending time with his friends. He recently launched his own website, www.vicdarchinyan.com .

The little flyweight with the heavyweight wallop knows that he is just a victory or two away from being a marketable box office star with his fan friendly style:

“I feel like I can drop walls with my left hand. I’m going to show that I’m good with my right hand, too.

“I’m excited about my opportunity being with Gary and I believe I can show better boxing every fight.”