Vic Darchinyan to 'Shoot Down' Challenger Tomas Rojas

Armenian-born 115-pounder, Vic Darchinyan, of Australia, will defend his WBC and WBA super flyweight titles against Mexican Tomas Rojas in a clash of southpaws in Saturday night's Showtime-televised bout from the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

Darchinyan-Rojas will take place on the undercard of a junior welterweight (140 pounds) matchup of unbeatens, during which WBO champion Tim Bradley (24-0, 11 knockouts) of Palm Springs makes the second defense of his crown against Lamont Peterson (27-0, 13 KOs) of Washington, D.C.

"Vic is fearless. If there is ever a fight in a bar, I hope I'm standing next to Vic Darchinyan. Vic is special," said Gary Shaw, Darchinyan's promoter.

"Vic is the current WBC and WBA World Champion, a two-belt champion, and the most exciting fighter in all of boxing," said Shaw. "It's going to be a great opening fight -- a great action fight for both TV and the fans here."

By returning to his proper weight class, the 33-year-old Darchinyan (32-2-1, 26 KOs), of Sydney, is attempting to rebound from July's unanimous decision loss to then 118-pound IBF bantamweight champ Joseph Agbecko.

"It is a special quality that, when Darchinyan lost, they still brought him back to TV -- which is more than I can say for other networks," said Shaw. "It is going to be a great card. We will be sold out on Friday, for sure -- 100 percent."

The 29-year-old Rojas (32-10, 22 KOs) is 6-0-1 with four knockouts since being stopped in the sixth round in September 2007 by Jorge Arce, whom Darchinyan knocked out in the 11th round in February.

"How does Rojas figure that he is going to beat me when I have beaten all of his opponents that he has fought?" said Darchinyan. "Team Rojas can believe what they want to believe. They say they are going to take me out and take my belt?"

Nicknamed, "The Raging Bull," Darchinyan took a run of 4-0-1 with four knockouts into his loss to Agbecko, prior to that having suffered a fifth-round knockout loss to Nonito Donaire in July 2007.

"[Rojas] acts brave, but when he sees me here, he begins to shake," said Darchinyan. "I am a fully loaded gun, and I am going to shoot him down with my boxing skills in the ring."

Rojas brings the confidence of having earned October's unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Evans Mbamba, who was 16-0 with eight knockouts coming in.

"I'm ready and geared up for Saturday's fight. It's a two-for-one on Saturday because I will take two belts from Vic Darchinyan on Saturday night," said Rojas.

"I'm ready to take the belt. I'm going to throw a lot of punches. I'll throw more punches and harder ones," said Rojas. "He's a good fighter, but I am ready for him. This is an important fight for me. Vic Darchinyan is strong, but not indestructible."