Darchinyan back in the mix - defeats Perez

Ringside by Francisco Salazar
Photos by “Big” Joe Miranda

Based on Vic Darchinyan’s performance against Abner Mares, bantamweight contender Yonnhy Perez stated that he was going to shut the door on the career of the hard-hitting Armenian fighter.

Based on his impressive performance, Darchinyan not only swung the door open, but re-entered the room full of bantamweight world title holders and top contenders.

The 35 year old Darchinyan sure did not look his age as he won a one-sided five round technical decision over Perez before a vocal crowd of about 3,700 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.

The bout was a consolation bout in the SHOWTIME bantamweight tournament and was moved up to main event status when Joseph Agbeko suffered an injury on Monday night, postponing the tournament finale against Abner Mares.

Both Darchinyan and Perez lost their semi-final bouts that took place at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA in December. Darchinyan lost a close 12 round split decision to Mares, while Perez lost a 12 round unanimous decision to Agbeko.

A majority of the media had Perez as the slight edge because he was a natural bantamweight and was the physically bigger fighter. There were those who favored Darchinyan, a two-weight class champion, because of his experience and power-punching abilities.

Darchinyan came out from the opening bell, stunning Perez in the opening minute of the round. Darchinyan landed solid left hooks to the head as Perez attempted to assert himself.

In the second round, Darchinyan dropped Perez with a left uppercut to the head. Perez stood up, but was wobbled by another left hand to the head. Sensing he was hurt, Darchinyan pinned Perez against the ropes, landing vicious combinations until the bell sounded.

“He took big punches and I wanted to knock him out,” said Darchinyan after the fight. “But he’s still a great fighter.”

Perez started well in the third and fourth rounds, landing repeated straight right hands to the head of Darchinyan. Just as Perez was about to control the action, Darchinyan was able to outmuscle and outwork Perez in the second half of each round.

Darchinyan was on the offensive in the fifth round. Just as both were about to throw a punch, both fighters’ heads collided, opening up a cut on Perez’s forehead. Blood was gushing out, prompting referee Jerry Cantu to stop the fight at 1:07 on the advice of ringside physician Dr. Paul Wallace.

Because four full rounds were complete and the stoppage was due to an accidental headbutt, the fight went to the judges’ scorecards. Not surprisingly, all three judges, including Fightnews.com, scored the bout 50-44 in favor of Darchinyan.

“He quit,” said Darchinyan, after the fight. “The ref said ‘Do you want to fight?’ He said ‘no.’”

Asked about future plans, Darchinyan said, “Today, I’ll fight anyone in the division. I would fight Mares, if he’s fight me. If not, Nonito Donaire. If not, I’ll move up another division.”

“I know it would appear that the cut was bad,” said Perez, who did not attend the post-fight press conference as he went to a nearby hospital. “I was just getting warmed up. I’m extremely disappointed it ended this way. I’m fine. I would have continued had the referee not stopped it. I’m going to go back to Colombia, relax, and regroup.”

Darchinyan, from Sydney, Australia by way of Vanadzok, Armenia, improves to 36-3-1, 27 KO’s. Perez, from nearby Santa Fe Springs, by way of Cartagena, Colombia, falls to 20-2-1, 14 KO’s.

Williamson stops Marrone

In the 10 round heavyweight bout, former world heavyweight title challenger DaVarryl Williamson stopped Mike Marrone in the seventh round.

Williamson, who is best known for dropping Wladimir Klitschko before losing a technical decision six and a half years ago, had not fought since being stopped by Ray Austin in October of 2009.

Both fighters went at one another from the opening bell but settled into a boxing match in the same round. Marrone was busier, but Williamson landed repeated right hands to the head following a jab in the second round.

In the third, Williamson landed a hard left-right combination to the head, dropping Marrone to the canvas. Marrone stood up right before the bell sounded to end the round. Not to be outdone, Marrone came on in the fourth round, stunning Williamson with two left hooks tom the head. However, Williamson was back in control, landing effectively and often against Marrone. Williamson had a big sixth round, culminating with a vicious right uppercut to the head of Marrone.

In the seventh, Williamson hurt Marrone with a vicious right hand to the head. Marrone staggered against the ropes where Williamson landed a left-right to the head that dropped him to the canvas. Just as Marrone was going down, referee Zac Young stepped in and stopped the fight 2:30.

Williamson, from Washington, DC, improves to 27-6, 23 KO’s. Marrone, from Vero Beach, FL, drops to 19-3, 14 KO’s.

Reyes spoils Hovhannisyan’s debut

In the fight of the night, junior lightweight Juan Reyes won a hard-fought four round unanimous decision over Azat Hovhannisyan, who was making his professional debut.

Both fighters went at one another in the first two rounds. Both traded hard combinations to the head and body, although Reyes’ looked the more effective.

Reyes hurt Hovhannisyan with a two-punch combination to the head in the third round. Hovhannisyan staggered across the ring with Reyes in pursuit. However, Reyes was not able to land that one punch and to his credit, Hovhannisyan battle back. Reyes stunned Hovhannisyan a couple more times in the round, with referee Zac Young closely looking the Armenian-born fighter.

Hovhannisyan gathered himself in between rounds and was the more effective fighter in the fourth. Reyes slowed down, possibly because he was winded from the previous round. Hovhannisyan did well in putting his punches together until the final bell sounded.

All three judges had Reyes winning the bout with scores of 40-36, 40-36, and 38-37. Fightnews.com scored the bout 39-37 in favor of Reyes.

Reyes, from Riverside, CA by way of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, goes to 1-1.

Omar wins battle of Figueroas

Junior welterweight Omar Figueroa broke down John Figueroa, earning himself a second round stoppage in a scheduled eight round bout.

Omar Figueroa came out aggressively from the opening bell, attacking the body of his taller opponent and mixing in rights to the head. John Figueroa tried to fight back, but was overwhelmed and retreated backwards to keep Omar Figueroa at a distance.

In the second, Omar Figueroa hurt John Figueroa with a right uppercut to the head and followed it up with straight right to the head, dropping him to the canvas. John Figueroa got up, but was battered repeatedly by Omar Figueroa. John Figueroa’s corner stood up on the canvas in an attempt to spare their fighter from any more punishment. Referee Zac Young acknowledged the corner and stopped the fight at 1:57.

Omar Figueroa, from Weslaco, TX, improves to 11-0-1, 9 KO’s. John Figueroa, from Salinas, Puerto Rico, drops to 7-10-3, 3 KO’s.

Diaz survives Solorio

Flyweight Miguel Diaz remained unbeaten with a hard-fought four round unanimous decision over Alejandro Solorio.

Solorio hurt Diaz in the first with a left hook to the body. Diaz retreated away as Solorio attempted to follow up. Both fighters had their moments in the second round although Diaz recovered to land the more effective combinations.

In the third, Solorio was effectively going to the body and taking control of the round. Seconds before the round ended, Diaz landed a counter right hand that dropped Solorio to the seat of his pants. Solorio stood up just as the round ended. Diaz boxed in and out during the fourth round as Solorio was visibly tired, throwing mostly arm punches.

All three judges scored the bout 39-36 in favor of Diaz. Fightnews.com scored the bout 38-37 in favor of Diaz.

Diaz, from Allentown, PA, goes to 5-0, 3 KO’s. Solorio, from Los Angeles, CA, drops to 4-4, 3 KO’s.

Hovhannisyan overwhelms Lugo

Junior welterweight Art Hovhannisyan stopped Jose Alfredo Lugo in the fifth round of a scheduled six round bout.

Both fighters fought two and a half years ago, with Hovhannisyan winning a close six round unanimous decision. That was then as Lugo is no longer the fighter with the modest record then as he is now an opponent for young unbeaten fighters.

Hovhannisyan controlled most of the action, landing the more effective combinations and being a step ahead of Lugo. In the fifth, Hovhannisyan hurt Lugo with a left hook to the head, and then looked as though he pushed Lugo down to the canvas. Referee Zac Young ruled it a knockdown and waved the fight over at 1:57 even after Lugo got up from the canvas.

Hovhannisyan, from Glendale, CA by way of Gyumri, Armenia, improves to 13-0-1, 7 KO’s. The tough and game Lugo, from Richmond, CA, falls to 11-16-1, 5 KO’s.

Gasparyan stops Titsworth

In the walkout bout of the evening, Vardan Gasparyan stopped Trenton Titsworth in the fifth round of a scheduled six round bout.

The fight was approved by the California State Athletic Commission despite the fact that Gasparyan outweighed Titsworth by almost seven pounds (Gasparyan weighed in at 150.8, while Titsworth was at 144).

Gasparyan was clearly the better fighter of the two. He fought mostly on the inside with Titsworth because the taller Titsworth held often. Referee Jack Reiss deducted a point from Titsworth in the third round because of the holding. Gasparyan battered Titsworth around the ring in the fifth round, stunning Titsworth often. Titsworth was not throwing back, prompting referee Jack Reiss to step in and stop the fight at 2:31.

Gasparyan, from Glendale, CA, goes to 13-2-5, 6 KO’s. Titsworth, from Omaha, NE, adds another loss to his 3-12-2, 2 KO’s record.

Ringside notes

- Newly-crowned welterweight titleholder Victor Ortiz, featherweight contender Daniel Ponce De Leon, cruiserweight contender Lateef Kayode, Israel Vazquez, unbeaten junior middleweight contender Vanes Martirosyan, lightweight contender Vicente Escobedo, former champ Sergio Mora, brothers Carlos and Javier Molina, unbeaten lightweight Daniel Hernandez, junior lightweight prospect Gabriel Tolmajyan, and former flyweight contender-turned promoter Kahren Harutyunyan.

- Promoters for the card were Gary Shaw, Golden Boy Promotions, Don King Productions, and Thompson Boxing Promotions.

- Gus Johnson, Al Bernstein, and Antonio Tarver called the action from ringside for SHOWTIME.

- Sharing the ring announcing duties were Jimmy Lennon, Jr. (Darchinyan-Perez) and Joe Martinez (non-televised undercard).