By Francisco: In a super flyweight superfight, IBF, WBC and WBA unified champion Vic Darchinyan (32-1-1, 26 KOs) scored a punishing eleventh round TKO over WBA interim champ Jorge Arce (51-5-1, 39 KOs) on Saturday night at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Darchinyan had a big first round rocking Arce with big bombs. Darchinyan continued to punish Arce in round two. Arce turned things around in round three, landing some shots that bloodied Darchinyan. Good action in the fourth, Arce was rocked in the last minute. The rounds continued to be competitive with an edge to Darchinyan. Arce was wobbled in round seven. Round eight was one-sided for the champion as Arce was clearly wearing down. Darchinyan opened a cut over Arce’s right eye in the eleventh as Arce continued to take a beating. The doctor stopped the bout after the eleventh. Scores were 109-100 on all cards. “He surprised me. I didn’t expect a fight from him like this,” said Darchinyan afterward. “He was tough. He is a good fighter. I hit him with some good shots, but he kept coming back. I would have liked to knock him out cold, but this is OK. I am happy. I feel great. Maybe if it goes another round, I knock him out. Arce hit me with some good shots, but I was too strong. I think my speed was a difference. I am ready to fight anybody!”
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In an extremely brutal fight, lightweight Antonio DeMarco (20-1-1, 14 KOs) scored a very impressive ninth round TKO over “Kid Diamond” Almazbek Raiymkulov (27-2-1, 15 KOs) to claim the vacant NABO title. DeMarco broke open the bloody and competitive fight in round eight with a violent attack that rocked Raimkulov and it was decided between rounds that Raiymkulov could not continue in the ninth. At the finish, DeMarco was ahead on two scorecards 88-83, and behind on the other 86-85.
Photos by Raymond Rodriguez