Darchinyan Has Interest in The Banal-Pungluang Winner

By James Goyder

Vic Darchinyan’s trainer Angelo Hyder says that Darchinyan (38-5-1, 27KOs) is interested in moving down to 118 lbs to challenge for the WBO title being contested by Pungluang Sor Sinyu and AJ Banal at the SM Mall of Asia Arena tomorrow night.

Darchinyan’s most recent fight was at super bantamweight, when he won a lopsided decision victory over Luis Orlando Del Valle in Connecticut. With the win the Armenian, who has Australian citizenship, snapped a two fight losing streak.

In 2008 Darchinyan fought to a controversial draw with Banal’s ALA Boxing Gym team mate Z Gorres in Cebu City. Gorres’ boxing career was tragically cut short by a serious brain injury suffered in 2009 - but were Banal to beat Pungluang it is likely ALA Promotions would be interested in the possibility of bringing Darchinyan to the Philippines for a second time.

According to Hyder although Darchinyan moved up to 122 lbs to face Del Valle he would have no problem dropping back down to bantamweight to fight for the WBO belt.