LAS VEGAS: Armenian-Australian boxer Vic Darchinyan scored a comprehensive victory on the weekend, before acknowledging the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide and the ANZAC heroes of Gallipoli.
Darchinyan, wearing a belt with '1915' to mark the yet-to-be-recognised Genocide of his ancestors and the ANZAC landing, dominated Yhonny Perez in Las Vegas, before a bleeding eye forced his opponent's doctor to stop the fight in the fifth round.
After the fight, with the Australian and Armenian flags draped behind him, the 35-year-old said: "It is a very important date for me today, it is the 23rd of April, and in Armenia and around the world, the 24th of April is Armenian Genocide [commemoration] day.
"I want all Armenians to remember this day [as] 1.5 million Armenians died.
"And also, it is ANZAC Day in Australia and I would like to wish [the veterans] the best."
Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) Executive Director, Varant Meguerditchian praised Darchinyan's efforts.
He said: "Vic Darchinyan typifies what it is to be an Armenian-Australian. His feats in the ring and acknowledgement of ANZAC Day show his great contribution to Australian life, while his bringing international exposure to the Armenian Genocide shows his dedication to his Armenian origins."
In the pre-fight weigh-in, Darchinyan had an Armenian Genocide awareness poster carried in to be pictured in all photos with him by media.
