Foley KOs Borg In A War; Darchinyan Returns With Win

By Jake Donovan

One of the best fights of 2015 came from an unexpected source, as Darragh Foley outlasted Valentine Borg in a savage war Saturday evening in New South Wales, Australia. Foley recovered from a knockdown to score three of his own before finally putting away Borg in the 6th round of their lightweight scrap. 

The matchup was an interesting pairing, with the same fighter responsible for issuing the lone loss to both fighters - Filipino spoiler Joebert de los Reyes. Borg was stopped in five rounds last March, but bounced back strong with four straight wins. Foley came up just short versus de los Reyes in their 10-round scrap in July, already fighting for the second time since the narrow split decision loss. 

The determination of both fighters was well on display as early as the ring introductions, with the action matching the atmosphere. Foley struck first and often, twice dropping Borg in the opening round and intent on closing the show early. 

It would have been understandable had Borg opted to pack it in during any point in the fight, but the camera-friendly lightweight kept coming forward. He went tooth and nail with Foley, although that strategy led to his once again hitting the canvas in round four. 

Foley sensed the finish line well within sight, but literally left his guard down long enough to get clipped. A massive momentum shift was felt throughout the venue as the 27-year old hit the deck in round five. It turned out to be Borg's last hurrah on this particular night, as Foley managed to recover and end the slugfest in round six. 

Both fighters were given a well-deserved round of applause from an enthusiastic crowd who got their money's worth. 

Foley moves to 7-1 (5KOs), scoring his second win in four weeks, having initially rebounded from his lone loss with a knockout win in September. Borg falls to 10-2 (7KOs) with the loss, albeit in a gutsy performance that will create enough demand for fans to want to see more once he's fully recovered and ready to resume his career. 

As wild as was the aforementioned bout, it was "just" a preliminary affair. 

The show also saw the return of Vic Darchinyan, although his comeback win could prove more harm than good. The former two-division champ made his way back to the win column with a 2nd round knockout of Thai clubfighter Mongkolchai Lookmuangkanch, who has now been stopped in each of his last three fights. 

For Darchinyan (41-8-1, 30KOs), the win will undoubtedly create the false perception that he has more left to offer the sport. The 39-year old southpaw once served as high among the best in the flyweight and super flyweight divisions. Even in enduring his first loss - a 5th round knockout defeat in July '07 that put Nonito Donaire on the map - he bounced back strong to lead a Fighter-of-the-Year worthy campaign in 2008, collecting three belts in storming the super flyweight division. 

Those days were long ago, however, as he is far on the wrong side of his best days in the sun. Darchinyan entered Saturday's event having been knocked out in three of his past five starts, including a frightening 5th round starching at the vicious hands of Nicholas Walters last May in a performance that had fans begging for his immediate retirement.

Instead, the proud boxer soldiers on, with no telling where his return to the win column will lead. The only place good would be going out on a high note, wrapping up his incredible career with a win. This being boxing, fans sadly know better than to expect a happy ending.

Speaking of careers lasting way too long, former two-division champ Denkaosan Kaovichit was brought in as the latest source of cannon fodder for unbeaten southpaw TJ Doheny. Their super bantamweight main event battle was one way, with Doheny (13-0, 9KOs) - Irish-proud but now based in Oz - battering the faded Thai boxer en route to a 5th round knockout.

Doheny turned heads earlier this year - at least on the domestic scene - with a 12-round shutout of former super flyweight contender Marco Demecillo. It was enough to get his name on the map (a familiar formula of a rising prospect beating a faded former champ or contender with name value), but a step up in class will be required of the southpaw prospect, who turns 29 in November. 

Kaovichit falls to 63-6-1 (26KOs). The 39-year old held separate title reigns at flyweight (which included a split series with Daiki Kameda) and super flyweight, but has since fallen far from grace. The latest setback was his third knockout loss in the span of four fights, having not fought since a two-round drubbing at the hands of Ryo Matsumoso last September.