Sunday, November 02, 2008 Quijano: It’s Matador Mijares over Vic the Bull By Jingo Quijano Last Round
BY NOW ardent Filipino fight fans know that Vic “The Raging Bull” Darchinyan likes to talk a tough game.
I distinctly recall an incident during the press conference for his bout with our very own Z “The Dream” Gorres early this year, wherein this cocky southpaw told the Last Round that after he knocks Gorres out, Filipinos should forget about boxing and instead focus on other sports like pool.
I chuckled under my breath but I held back the lawyerly urge to rebut him, due in part to two huge members of his posse that surrounded him and swooned at his every word.
Besides, it was fun hearing him yap and I haven’t heard such entertaining baloney since Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby denied they ever held each other’s hands.
MATADOR. Today, he will need more than verbal venom to get past master boxer Christian Mijares to snare the latter’s IBF, WBA, and WBC super flyweight belts.
This talented Mexican is undefeated in six years, with his three losses coming early in his career.
But with only 15 KOs in 36 fights, he’s not exactly known for his prodigious strength. Instead this wily, crafty technician prefers to outbox and outlast his opponents.
He’s not that slick either but seems to have a knack of slipping punches by just a couple of inches to maintain a superior punching position.
Look up the Jorge Arce fight and you’ll be impressed with how he kept his composure despite the frenetic pace Arce imposed.
EXPECT THE FIGHT TO BE: A contrast in styles. Typically, Darchinyan has predicted an early knockout, but a bull rush is a bad thing for brash Vic against composed Christian.
It’s the quintessential matador vs. the bull face-off. Darchinyan’s aggressive forays will be stymied by Mijares’s timely counters. The speed factor might be quite even but Mijares sports a good chin and this could frustrate the power punching Armenian.
Mijares by Unanimous Decision.
GO FLASH. Finally, we can get a chance to see Nonito Donaire Jr. in action again. After that impressive defense against Luis Maldonado to follow up his knockout win over Darchinyan, Nonito Donaire will strut his wares today against Moruti Mthalane of South Africa (22-1, 15 KOs)
A long layoff does bad things for fighters—even one as talented as Nonito. Hopefully, now that he’s signed up with Top Rank, he can get the big fights that he deserves.
So what do I think about this fight? We really don’t know much about Mthalane but his record looks pretty decent.
Still, I would label this a get-busy fight for the “Filipino Flash” and great opportunity for him to get some needed rounds in.
I hope he puts on a spectacular display which will spice up a much awaited showdown with the winner of the Mijares vs. Darchinyan bout.
HE SAID IT. “The judge is supposed to do his job. If he can’t do his job, then that’s not my fault. But everybody seems to put it on me, like he gave me that whole fight.”—Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. commenting on his controversial SD win over Matt Vanda. He faces Vanda in a rematch today.
SLAM TIME. Mark Nov. 15 on your calendar guys for some scorching mixed martial arts action. Its time for URCC 3 and the main event pits our very own Cary “The Prince” Bullos against Lino Tagacay of Manila. The dukeout takes place at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).
THE LAST ROUND. It’s on Tiffany Christine Tiffany Yap–Guttierez who recently celebrated her birthday with husband Rey and little cherubs Christianna and Martina. Cheers!
