Vic Darchinyan defeated Yonnhy Perez on Saturday evening at the Nokia Center in Los Angeles much to the delight of the pro-Armenian crowd. Darchinyan won a unanimous decision when the fight was stopped a minute into the fifth round because of a cut Perez sustained following a headbutt. All three judges had it 50-44 in favor of Darchinyan, giving him the win.
It wasn’t just the one-sided performance that Vic had that stood out, it was the way he connected with his culture. On the eve of the 96th anniversary since the Armenian Genocide began, Darchinyan decided to pay tribute to his country by wearing “1915” on his trunks and his hood.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the Genocide, it began April 24th, 1915 when the Turkish government arrested over 200 Armenian community leaders in Constantinople. Between 1915 and 1923, an estimated 1-1.5 million Armenians died at the hands of the Turks in the Ottoman Empire. It is considered to be one of the worst massacres of a group of people in mankind and it will never be forgotten by the Armenian people.
It’s important that a popular figure in the Armenian community like Vic Darchinyan sets a good example for the youth by paying tribute to the tragedy through his gear. He did just that, and in front of a crowd supporting him, he scored a big win. A rematch against Abner Mares, against whom he lost in December, could be up next for the Raging Bull.
Here’s a picture of his 1915 hood and vest:
Photo Credit: Pound4pound.com
