‘CHANGO’ VARGAS UNDERGOING MEDICAL; DARCHINYAN FIRES VERBAL ASSAULT ON DONAIRE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 12 Feb 2010
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - Manuel “Chango” Vargas is undergoing his medical tests in San Diego, California Thursday morning before flying here later today.
Vargas who has a record of 26-4-1 with 11 knockouts is a last minute substitute for hard-hitting Mexican Gerson Guerrero who was found to have a tear in his right eye retina during the pre-fight medical examination conducted by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and was not allowed to fight.
Both Guerrero and Donaire expressed disappointment at the developments but said that's the nature of the sport. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told us Guerrero would have to undergo laser surgery and rest for at least six months before returning to the ring.
The "Pinoy Power III/Latin Fury" fight card will be telecast by the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN over its pre-eminent Channel 2 at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday with replays on Studio 23 at 8:00 p.m. on Channel 2's "Sunday's Best" at 11:15 p.m as well as the cable channel Balls on February 16 at 4:00 p.m. anf February 18 at 9:oo p.m. p.m.
Meantime, WBA super flyweight interim champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” holds an international media conference from the Top Rank offices of promoter Bob Arum at 1:00 p.m.
Donaire who is aiming to move up in weight after hopefully winning the WBA super flyweight title told us that he is focused on making weight for Saturday’s “Pinoy Power III/Latin Fury 13” fight card at the Pavilion of the Hilton Hotel the same site where Leon Spinks stunned Muhammad Ali to win the world heavyweight title.
Donaire was reportedly a few pounds overweight and the cold weather in Las Vegas was not that conducive to losing weight, forcing him to diet.
In fact Ciso “Kid Terrible” Morales was also some two pounds overweight but trainer Nonito Donaire Sr said he’d have no problem making the weight for the official weigh-in on Friday.
Morales is a massive underdog in the bookmakers odds in Las Vegas for his WBO bantamweight title fight against title fight against Fernando “Cochulito” Montiel.
Montiel himself told us Wednesday at a press conference that he was six pounds over the bantamweight limit but said he was used to it and would make weight.
In fact Montiel was working out in the gym last night and was all smiles even as he indicated he was looking forward to a fight with newly crowned WBO champion Jorge Arce who is also being targeted by Donaire.
Meantime, reigning WBC and WBA super flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan has launched another blistering verbal assault on Donaire.
Ray Wheatley who publishes the “World of Boxing” quotes Darchinyan as saying . “The more I hear about Donaire, the more it makes me feel he should be taking up a new job, maybe he should take up a new occupation, he can take care of those in need of retirement.”
Darchinyan has been bragging about avenging his 5th round knockout by Donaire in July 2007 when “The Filipino Flash” scored a spectacular victory which was chosen as the “Knockout of the Year” in the process winning Darchinyan’s IBF and IBO flyweight titles.
Wheatley quoted Darchinyan as saying “He knows he got lucky and he wants nothing to do with fighting me. Arce is finished, he fought a bum for a vacant world title and he calls himself a champion, now Donaire wants to fight Arce. Give the fans what they want. You don’t see Manny Pacquaio fighting opponents with walking sticks. I’ve got two titles ready for you to take. You believe you’re the man? Come and be a unified champion. You can fight Arce after you fight me.”
Continuing his vicious verbal assault Darchinyan said “The problem is you’re a freshly plucked chicken ready for the oven. The fans want to see if you can be lucky a second time around. The problem is you know whats going to happen when we fight. You know you’re going to be knocked out cold. I don’t blame you for not wanting to fight me. After you fight this bum on the weekend, I am here waiting for you. You’re a fighter, act like a fighter. If not, I will get you the audition dates for the next Victoria’s Secret catalog
The article by Wheatley has raised serious questions about the propriety of an IBF official such as Wheatley writing an article in which a one-time IBF champion Darchinyan attacks another outstanding former IBF champion like Donaire.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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