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VIC Darchinyan became flyweight champion of the world with a "Raging Bull" performance in Hollywood yesterday. The Sydney southpaw beat Irene Pacheco of Colombia into surrender in the 11th round in Hollywood, Florida.

Vic captured the IBF belt - and if he gets the Aussie backing he merits, Vic could collect the WBC and WBA straps, too, in 2005.

In fact, said sportswriter Robert Drane, "Vic Darchinyan is in danger of becoming the best flyweight that boxing has seen since - Jimmy Wilde!"

Vivid Vic himself spoke to FOL by mobile at four in the morning Hollywood time (evening here).

"Congratulations, Champ! You'll be greeted by that name a lot from now."

Yes, many were coming up to wish me luck. You be champion, they say.

You had a hard fight with Pacheco tonight. He was 30-0, he'd made six successful defences.
Naw!

The fight was even for nine rounds. Jeff had to stir you. Weren't you wondering?

I destroy him! I tell everybody before, 'I win.' I beat everybody [21-0 pro], and I do it again!

Jeff Fenech came on the line. It was a close fight. Vic's a tough little lad. He dug deep. The fight was even after nine. . I got him back in the corner before the tenth round and called on him for more. He delivered.

Aussie second, Billy Hussein. Vic was having it hard . . but we knew he was going to come back. After Jeff urged him on, in the tenth Vic became so aggressive, throwing the left hand. Pacheco had lost his freshness. Vic overcame him. Power and the will to win.

We want to see Australia embrace this 51 kilogram boxing bull. A first defence in Summertime Sydney? Challenge Pongsanglek Wonjongsam for the WBC belt, Lorenzo Parra for the WBA. Unify the titles and get all Australia behind him.

Jeff Fenech again. We've got a big offer to go to Hawaii. There are options to examine. He came from Armenia to box at Sydney 2000. Boxing, is all he's done. M y job is to make the kid earn for a lifetime in the next three years.

Vic Darchinyan reminds oldtimers of Vic Patrick, the great Aussie southpaw lightweight who knocked out welterweights.

One hundred per cent Yes! said Jeff Fenech. That crashing left hand! I've had dinner a few times with Vic Patrick. He's a model for Vic.

It took a Freddie Dawson to bar Patrick. Pacheco's down, only Pongsanglek to go. Get behind our Raging Bull.

As he told me, this naturalised fighting man. I'm an Aussie! I win title for Australia.

# What upsets this observer, in the time of you-no-pay, you-no-see boxing, pocket destroyer Darchinyan is too little known in Australia.
The cable people prosper but the game does not.
Why, millions knew Santo Rizzo the six round boy in the days of 'TV Ringside' every Monday night.
Wake up to what you're missing, you free to air television networks.

-- Mike C Ryan