Darchinyan eyes super flyweight fight

Darchinyan eyes super flyweight fight Email Print Normal font Large font June 20, 2007 - 7:45PM Advertisement AdvertisementAustralia's dual flyweight world boxing champion Vic Darchinyan is eyeing a title fight at super flyweight as the world's other top flyweight, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, mulled over a big money offer to fight him in America. Darchinyan has flown to the US to commence final preparations for the defence of his IBF and IBO world titles against American-based Filipino Nonito Donaire in Bridgeport, Connecticut on July 7. The Bangkok Post reported Darchinyan's promoters had offered the notoriously travel shy Thai Pongsaklek $US250,000 ($A296,000) for a unification match-up with Darchinyan in America. WBC flyweight champion Pongsaklek, who has made 17 title defences over six years as part of an imposing 65-2 record, has never fought professionally outside of Asia. It was recently reported he had expressed an interest in fighting elsewhere and in tackling Darchinyan, who had cast doubts over his sincerity. "I will not make a decision yet because we already have three challengers on the waiting list until the end of the year," Wonjongkam's promoter Virat Vachiraratanawongse said. Pongsaklek is currently preparing to fight Daisuke Naito of Japan in Tokyo on July 17, having already defeated him in two previous title defences. The Thai didn't feature on Darchinyan's radar. With his promoter Gary Shaw finding it difficult to arrange a unification match, against any of the other flyweight champions, Darchinyan thought it would be easier to arrange his next fight at super flyweight. "I think the organisations know about me moving up (to super flyweight) and I think they are going to give me the chance to fight for a title," Darchinyan said from Sydney Airport before his departure. "I think already it's going to be much easier to fight for the IBF or for the WBC (super flyweight) title after this. "I think he (Shaw) is already organising something." Russian Dimitri Kirilov and Mexican Ricardo Vargas are fighting for the vacant IBF super flyweight title in Moscow on June 30, while WBC champion Cristian Mijares is defending his crown against Japan's Teppei Kikui in Mexico on July 13. Darchinyan is scheduled to spar against Kikui in America, but had no qualms about working out against someone who could be a prospective opponent, if the Japanese fighter dethrones Mijares. "I'm very focused and he (Kikui) is very confident too, because he knows I am going to move up (to super flyweight)," Darchinyan said. The 31-year-old Australian southpaw was prepared to fight for a super flyweight title without having an earlier bout at that weight. Darchinyan pointed out fighting Donaire would be good preparation for the move up, as the challenger was ranked as a super flyweight by all four major international bodies, before dropping down a division to challenge him. He will spar six more times before appearing in one of three world title bouts on the "Fistic Fireworks" promotion in Bridgeport.