Nonito Donaire (left) and Vic Darchinyan strike a pose during their weigh in Saturday morning (Manila time). Donaire won via TKO in their first duel back in 2007. Chris Farina/Top Rank
MANILA, Philippines—Fierce competitors Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. and Armenian Vic “The Raging Bull” Darchinyan officially tipped the scales ahead of their awaited rematch Sunday (Manila time) at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Donaire (31-2, 20 KOs) and Darchinyan (35-5-1. 28 KOs) weighed in at 125.25 and 125.75 pounds, respectively, just a shade below the 126-featherweight limit.
The 30-year-old Donaire is raring to bounce back after coming off a loss via unanimous decision in the hands of two-time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeax last April while the power-punching Darchinyan eyes redemption against the Filipino after being brutally stopped in the fifth round of their first meeting as a flyweight then six years ago.
The three-division world champion Donaire sprung into one of boxing’s finest stars after that convincing win over Darchinyan, now at 37, and this Sunday he aims to get back on top since losing his WBO bantamweight crown.