Darchinyan had promised a meaner and more aggressive style and he kept that promise as Perez (21-2-1, 14 KOs) was stunned early and never recovered in a fight many expected to be close. “I’m changing my style again. I’m going to knock out everyone in front of me. This time it’s Yonnhy Perez. He’s a good fighter, it’s nothing personal, I’m just coming to knock him out,” Darchinyan told a press conference before the event.
“I know he’s a very strong fighter and a very good fighter. He’s the type of fighter that likes to make you fight his fight but that’s not going to happen, I’m going to fight my fight not his fight. Everyone’s going to see a great fight and one that I know I’m going to win,” Perez remarked.
The Armenian fighter dedicated this bout to the memory of the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide. “On the other side of the world, in Armenia, April 24 is Armenian Genocide commemoration day. I want everyone to see this fight and see how motivated I am for this fight. All my team is going to come and commemorate 1915 Genocide victims,” he promised.
A clash of heads opened up a gush of blood over Perez’ s right eyebrow in the fifth round and Dr. Paul Wallace advised the fight be stopped at 1:07, but there was no doubt that the score cards would favor Darchinyan overwhelmingly.
“He took big punches,” Darchinyan said afterward. “I wanted to knock him out, but he is still a great fighter. It was a headbutt. But if it wasn’t a headbutt, I’d knock him out. No more boxing in my style. Today I’d fight anyone in the division. I’d like to fight Abner Mares if he’d fight me. If not, I’ll fight Nonito Donaire. If they won’t fight me, I’ll move up to another division.”
Darchinyan said he plans to go back to Australia and then visit Armenia to meet his fans and friends.