Darchinyan takes care of Arce in eleven

The main event featured Jorge Arce (51-5-1, 39KOs) and Vic Darchinyan (32-1-1, 26KOs) fighting for the IBF Super Flyweight Championship of the world. The crowd of nearly 5,500 went crazy as the participants were being introduced.

The first round began with both fighters feeling their way around but ended with Darchinyan landing the meaningful punches. Rounds two and three were also dominated by Vic but Jorge did show signs of life. The boxers slugged it out to conclude the third. The fourth round was one where both boxers landed meaningful blows, both attempting to end the fight with one punch. Action seemed to slow in the fifth and sixth rounds with spurts of action throughout. Arce seemed to slow in the seventh, eighth, and ninth as Vic kept his dominating pace, landing devastating punches. The tenth and eleventh were more of the same, as the crowd chanted, “finish him”, in Armenian, Darchinyan did just that, with Arce failing to answer the bell for the twelfth and final round.

“He surprised me. I didn’t expect a fight from him like this,’’ said Darchinyan, who was ahead 109-100 on the three judges’ scorecards after 11 completed rounds. “But 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.’’

The co-feature was a lightweight title fight for the NABO belt. Kid Diamond (21-2-1, 15KOs) came in against crowd favorite, Antonio DeMarco (21-1-1. 15KOs). Kid Diamond was the aggressor early despite suffering a cut over his left eye, he was still controlling the fight and bringing it to DeMarco. DeMarco picked his spots and landed beautiful shots to the body and upstairs. The middle rounds became a slug fest with both boxers landed thudding blows. DeMarco came on strong to end the 9th as he pushed Diamond to the ropes. Kid Diamond failed to answer the bell going into the 10th as his corner advised the referee to stop the fight.

“I got the confidence to enter the ring from my family and trainers.’’ DeMarco said. “They believed in me and trained me and that’s how I got the win.’’

The local product Vanes Martirosyan (23-0, 14KO’s) was featured in a super welterweight bout against Billy Lyell (18-7, 3KO’s). Vanes, from nearby Glendale, CA, received much crowd attention upon entering the ring and deservedly so. He dominated the fight landing the more meaningful punches while Lyell struggled to connect. The fight went to decision with Martirosyan prevailing 80-72, 79-73, 78-74.

The next bout featured a very strong-chinned, but outclassed Torrance Daniels (12-10-1, 5KOs) who had the heart but not the skills as he fought for his life against local favorite Chris Avalos (9-0, 7KO’s). Daniels was floored late in the 2nd but recovered to finish the round. He went on to show much resolve but the ref stopped the fight going into the 8th and final round.

The second bout of the evening ended in similar fashion to the first. Middleweight Omar Henry (3-0. 3KOs) looked very impressive over the still winless Francisco Martinez (0-3). This bout was also stopped in the 1st.

In the first bout of the evening, heavyweight Travis Kauffman (16-0, 13KOs), made quick work of journeyman Cliff Couser ( 26-18-2, 14KOs). Kauffman dominated the action and forced a stoppage late in the 1st round.