The biggest night of boxing ever seen on Fox Sports will happen in a little under 2 weeks at Parramatta Leagues Club when Gary Shaw Productions , Pain Away Australia & Nitro Boxing present Vic Darchynian in a World Title Bout on Thursday May 20. “It can be 12 or 18 months with out a fight’ Darchinyan said , ” I love to fight and must fight regular to stay at my best and stay on top this fight has been made possible by major sponsors coming on board, Painaway Australia and my Russian sponsors TASHIR.This fight will be beamed live to Russia and Armenia, and will be taken on delay in the US on the CBS – Showtime Television Network..
The reigning WBC Super Flyweight and WBA Super World Super Flyweight Champion will be involved in a World Title Bout against Filiopino warrior Eric Barcelona. Never before has a reigning UNIFIED World Champion headlined a show on Fox Sports and this show will be a block-buster. Other stars featuring on this card include , current UNDEFEATED Aussie sensation Will Tomlinson, former World Title Challenger Noufel Ben Rabah, the return of the 2008 Prospect of the Year Willie Kickett, Sydney favorite Zac Awad and a future boxing star that will be making his professional debut – Mostyn Niemann who will battle the Carl Webb Destroyer, giant killer Scott Lewis in the battle of the heavyweights. Also making his heavyweight debut will be BIG Willie Felippe, taking on Kickboxing sensation Andre Popovic.
34 year-old and SIX TIME WORLD CHAMPION Vic Darchinyan, the Armenian born 2000 Olympian and Australian citizen, has a professional boxing record of 34 wins, 2 loss, 1 draw and 27 wins by knockout.
Ishe Smith Comes Off Camp with Mayweather, Aims for Mora
Las Vegas, NV- Seasoned welterweight veteran Ishe Smith(21-4 9ko’s) who was invited into pound for pound kingpin Floyd Mayweather’s training camp as a sparring partner is now aiming to make his own return to the ring.
Smith who was recently followed by whispers of a match up with Kassim Ouma, has no fight signed as of now, but would like to make it clear that he is aiming to take on the man that gave him the first loss of his career over five years ago, Sergio Mora(22-1).
“ Coming off the opportunity to spar in the Mayweather camp I learned a lot, and am primed for a major fight. The first time we fought it was a split decision in a five round fight. I’ve been calling for the rematch since then and he has never shown any interest” Smith said regarding Mora.
Smith, who came up short in his last outing against rising star Danny Jacobs(19-0), made a statement in 2008 by handing prospect Pawel Wolak (26-1) the first loss of his professional career. While Mora previously held the WBC junior middleweight title, his last outing was at 160 pounds, a weight Smith has said he has no problem with.
“There is no reason not to fight. People only got to see the edited version of the last fight and didn’t see how bad I hurt him in the last 30 seconds”
Smith and Mora first squared off in the semi finals of the inaugural season of NBC’s The Contender. Mora edged out a split decision, in a five round bout. Although Smith had experience going ten rounds, and Mora eight at the time of the fight, the five round format was a part of the tournament that served as a disadvantage to the more experienced contestants.
Sergio Mora is listed to appear on the recently announced Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Juan Diaz card July 31 at Mandalay Bay, although no opponent has been announced.
Smith has stated that he is open to bouts at either junior middleweight or middleweight.
Ishe Smith turned professional in 2000, and has captured NABO, WBC Continental, and USBA welterweight titles. Becoming a household name by participating in NBC’s The Contender in 2005, Smith has since appeared on national television numerous times.
Along with holding several marquee victories Smith has also shared the ring with Floyd Mayweather, Fernando Vargas, Shane Mosley, and Oscar De La Hoya as a sparring partner. Smith is based out of boxing’s capital city of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Van Oscar Penovaroff Ready to Light Up “Pain on Pain Street” in Reading, PA on 5/22
Reading, PA (May 10, 2010) – Fighting is ingrained deep into the genetic material of Van Oscar Penovaroff. A native of Kailua Kona, Hawaii but now residing in Reading, PA, Penovaroff was an alternate on the 2004 US Olympic boxing squad after 120 amateur fights. He also won the 135 pound world title with the Hawaiian-based X-1 World Events mixed martial arts outfit, concluding with a 4-1 record.
When Penovaroff returns to the ring Saturday, May 22 at the Sovereign Center in Reading, PA, boxing will be the only combat sport on his mind. Penovaroff will be featured in a six-round bout against Jamar “Sandman” Saunders of Atlanta, Georgia on “Pain on Penn Street”, which will be promoted by King’s Promotions.
The main event will feature Travis Kauffman of Reading, PA fighting Chris Koval of Youngstown, OH for the vacant WBF Intercontinental heavyweight title.
The 27-year-old Penovaroff holds a record of 4-0-1 (3 KO) in professional boxing, with the only blemish being a controversial draw with Francisco Palacios in his last bout. Penovaroff controlled the tempo and appeared to clearly win every round but only walked away with an even verdict. One judge scored it six rounds to none for Penovaroff.
Penovaroff, himself of half-Filipino descent, turned pro in 2006 in Manila, Philippines but fought only once more in boxing before taking time off to focus on mixed martial arts. After two easy knockout wins in Hawaii, Penovaroff signed with manager/trainer Marshall Kauffman and relocated to King’s Boxing Gym in Reading.
Penovaroff once trained at the Olympic Development Program at Northern Michigan University alongside Travis Kauffman and at the American Kickboxing Academy with current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) stars Cain Velasquez, Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch.
However, Penovaroff never forgot his first love of boxing and returned to the Sweet Science to follow his dream of being the next great Hawaiian fighter.
“I was an MMA champion but I relinquished my belt just to focus on boxing because of guys like [Hawaiian-raised boxing champions] Andy Ganigan, Jesus Salud, Ben Villaflor and Brian Viloria. I would love to go down as the best boxer ever from Hawaii someday.”
Hawaii’s most recent champion, former two-time 108 pound champion and 2000 US Olympian Viloria, offered his ringing endorsement of Penovaroff’s warrior spirit.
“He reminds me of myself with the hunger and determination to be on top,” says Viloria. “He showed hunger and does all the essential things to be a world class fighter and a champion. Coming from a small group of island thousands of miles away from the rest of the United States, us Hawaiians try to use our talents to magnify themselves on the national and world stage.
“That’s what Van Oscar tries to do every time he steps in the ring, he shows that he belongs there. He trains extremely hard and can and will mix it up with the best out there.”
Though the American Northeast’s climate is a little different from what he’s used to, boxing fans in Pennsylvania are just beginning to warm up to Penovaroff.
“I can’t wait to put on a great show for all the fans in Reading. On May 22, I’m going to make a huge statement and show everyone what I’m made of.”
Tickets, priced at $65, $50, $35 and $25, are on sale now and can be purchased at Kingsboxing.com, the Sovereign Center Box Office at 700 Penn Street in Reading (610-898-7200) and at all Ticketmaster outlets (800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com).