Boxing champion Vic Darchinyan loses to Mexico's Abner Mares

December 12, 2010 - 16:14 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Boxing champion Vic Darchinyan lost to Mexico's Abner Mares in a split points decision in an action-packed bantamweight world title fight in the United States.

Mares, a 25-year-old from Guadalajara, was unbeaten in 20 professional bouts before meeting the Sydney-based southpaw at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington.

Darchinyan, who held the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association super flyweight titles, stepped up a weight division to take on Mares for the International Boxing Organisation and World Boxing Council Silver bantamweight titles.

Mares suffered a gash above his left eye in the first round from an accidental head clash and fought the remainder of the fight with blood leaking from the wound.

In the second round, Darchinyan knocked Mares down with a straight left hand.

Referee Robert Howard took a point off Mares in the fourth round for repeated low blows and in the seventh it was Darchinyan's turn to hit the canvas when Mares fired a left hand that caught him off balance.

The bout was also the semi-final of a bantamweight tournament in the United States, with Ghana's Joseph Agbeko taking on Yohnny Perez of Colombia later on Saturday at the Tacoma casino.

Mares will fight the tournament final next year, AAP reported.