By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Cris Paulino, a 22 year old Filipino southpaw, will fight three division world champion Vic Darchinyan in Sydney, Australia on December 18 while undefeated Markquil Salvana will clash with hard-hitting unbeaten Australian Jason Moloney for the vacant WBA Oceania super bantamweight title on December 2 in Melbourne.

 

The 24 year old Moloney is 4-0 with all four wins coming by way of knockouts.

 

Among his victims were Filipinos Danilo Gabisay  who lost y a 5th round TKO last August 19  and Alvin Bais who was stopped in a 3rd round TKO last March 6.

Well known Australian promoter Peter Maniatis told the New Standard/BoxingScene.com “we wanted an undefeated boxer for Moloney and Salvana fits the bill as he is 9-0 and its on a big Danny Green vs. Komnni Konrad card on PPV Main Event in Australia so we expect a great fight and a test for Moloney.”

Maniatis said Darchinyan will face “tough and talented” Cris Paulino, a 22 year old with a record of 14-2 with 4 knockouts who is coming off a 10th round KO loss to Japan’s Koki Eto in a Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation title fight last November 26, 2014 in Tokyo.

Paulino’s only other loss was an 11th round TO to rugged Ardin Diale in a clash for the Philippine flyweight crown on April 26, 2013 after which he won four fights in a row. He is ranked No. 12 super flyweight by the Philippine Games and Amusements Board in its September ratings.

The hard-hitting Darchinyan has a record of 41-8-1 with 30 knockouts  and won his last fight by a 2nd round TNKO over Prayoot Taijan last October 3 after losing by an 8th round knockout to Jesus Cuellar in a WBA featherweight title bout prompting us to ask Maniatis at what weight the fight will be held since Paulino is a flyweight who sometimes fights as a super flyweight.

 

Maniatis wished to thank promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde for making the matchup between Darchinyan and Paulino happen and claimed that Paulino “is very confident of victory because Darchinyan is 39 years old and f eels the timer is right to take Vic.”

 

Darchinyan has been training with superstar Ronda Rousey and her trainer Edmond in Melbourne in preparation for his Melbourne showdown against Paulino.