Irene Pacheco headlines on ESPN 2 Friday Night Fights, September 3

14/08/2004

Irene Pacheco headlines on ESPN 2 Friday Night Fights, September 3

World championship boxing comes to Hollywood, FL with an exciting lineup of bouts. The first card to hold a world championship fight in Hollywood, FL features current IBF flyweight champion Irene Pacheco facing undefeated challenger Vic Darchinyan.

The card, to be held at The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino takes place Friday, September 3, and will consist of eight scheduled bouts. The event is being promoted by Warrior's Boxing Promotions, Inc. and Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing, LLC in association with the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

IBF flyweight champion Irene Pacheco (30-0, 22 KOs) of Barranquilla, Colombia defends his title against the mandatory challenger Vic Darchinyan (21-0, 16 KOs) of Sydney, Australia in a 12 round championship bout. Upon turning professional in 1993, Irene "Mambaco" Pacheco has compiled an outstanding record. In 1999, Pacheco, the 5'7" southpaw, captured the vacant IBF Flyweight title in his 24th professional bout by defeating Luis Cox Coronado by way of a ninth round technical knockout in Pacheco's hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia.

Since then, Pacheco has defended his title impressively six times with four victories coming by way of knockout victory. Pacheco's power and skill is unrivaled in the flyweight division. In his most recent bout, Pacheco defeated Damean Kelly by way of a seventh round knockout in September 2003. Pacheco was in control from the opening bell and had Kelly down three times in round six. The September 3 bout against Vic Darchinyan will be Pacheco's fifth time fighting in the United States. Pacheco has defended the IBF flyweight title four times in the United States. At 33 years old, Pacheco is going strong and is in the prime of his career.

Twenty-eight year old Vic Darchinyan (21-0, 16 KOs), is looking to become world champion on September 3 when he faces Irene Pacheco for the IBF Flyweight championship. Darchinyan, originally from Armenia, now fights out of Australia under the promotion of former three-time world champion Jeff Fenech. The undefeated Darchinyan might be the toughest fight of Pacheco's career. Standing 5'5", the southpaw, Darchinyan, has a reputation of being a punishing body puncher. This could be key in slowing down the fast and skillful Pacheco. All 21 of Darchinyan's fights have taken place in Australia. September 3 will be Darchinyan's first world title challenge as well as his first bout in the United States. Darchinyan, the former Australian and IBF Pan Pacific Flyweight champion earned his mandatory position to fight for the title by defeating Wande Chor Charoen of Thailand on December 12, 2003 by way of a fifth round knockout. Since then, Darchinyan defeated Falazone Fidal, in April, by way of a second round technical knockout in his final preparation bout for Pacheco.

The co-main event features former North American Boxing Association heavyweight champion Friday Ahunanya (20-2-1, 11 KOs) of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, in a comeback fight after a knockout loss to heavyweight contender Lance "Mount" Whitaker in April. Ahunanya was on a three fight win streak before taking on the tall and powerful Whitaker. Ahunanya will be facing Vaughn "Shake and Bake" Bean (44-3, 34 KOs) of Chicago, IL. Bean, a former heavyweight contender is also making a comeback of his own. Two of Bean's defeats come at the hands of former world champions Evander Holyfield and Michael Moorer. Both losses were for the heavyweight title. The third defeat came by way of an 11th round TKO loss to current World Boxing Council heavyweight champion, Vital Klitschko in 2002. Since the loss to Klitschko, Bean has won two times in 2003 by knockout victory.

The undercard includes current NABA flyweight champion Angel Priolo (30-0, 20 KOs) of Barranquilla, Colombia in a ten round non-title bout. Priolo, rated in the top ten in the major sanctioning organizations is looking forward to taking on the winner of the main event championship fight. Also on the card-Sammy Retta (17-1, 16 KOs) of Ethiopia will be featured in a six round bout against TBA.

Local Hollywood favorites Kili Madrid (6-0-1, 4 KOs), Ed Paredes (1-0, 1 KO), and Johnny Pawlowski (0-1-0) round out the card.

Tickets priced at $30, $60 and $100 are available through Ticketmaster by calling 305-358-5885, 954-523-3309 or 561-966-330, ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets. Doors open at 6:30 PM. First bout is at 7:00 PM. For more information on Warrior's Boxing Promotions, visit their Website at: www.warriorsboxing.com.