NEW YORK (Jan. 13, 2009) – Before fan favorite Vic Darchinyan (31-1-1, 25 KOs) puts his International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) super flyweight titles on the line against the popular, crowd pleasing Jorge Arce (51-4-1, 39 KOs) on Feb. 7, 2009, boxing fans will feast on a spectacular co-feature that will no doubt whet their appetite for the main event later that evening.

No. 5 ranked WBC lightweight challenger Antonio DeMarco (19-1-1, 13 KOs) will take on “Kid Diamond” Almazbek Raiymkulov (27-1-1, 15 KOs) in a 12-round lightweight bout for the North American Boxing Organization (NABO) title on Saturday, Feb. 7, live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (SHOWTIME, 9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).

Both 12-round fights are co-promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, and Bob Arum’s Top Rank, Inc., and will take place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

DeMarco, who had three ShoBox victories in 2008, is known for his aggressiveness and speed. The rangy southpaw is coming off a hard fought, split decision victory over Jose Reyes and while he is taking a big step up in opposition against Raiymkulov, the Mexico native is not worried.

“I already know every facet of Kid Diamond’s style because I’ve been studying his fight videos,” DeMarco said. “On Feb. 7, boxing fans will see that diamonds aren’t forever.”

Shaw, who has two fighters on the telecast (DeMarco and Darchinyan) going up against two of Arum’s fighters (Arce and Raiymkulov), agrees.

“Tony DeMarco is the real gem of the lightweight division,” Shaw said. “He’s going to prove it on SHOWTIME when he leaves Diamond in the roughest shape of his life.”

Raiymkulov, who was an Olympic representative for the former Soviet Republic of
Kyrgyzstan, is a crafty boxer with a solid left jab. His only defeat came in 2005 against current IBF, WBA and World Boxing Organization (WBO) lightweight champion Nate Campbell.

Raiymkulov feels his power punch will be the difference. “I am working hard in the gym preparing for my fight against DeMarco,” he said. “He is a good champion but I have a lot more thunder in my punching. He will find that out on Feb 7. I do not expect this fight to go 12 rounds — not the way I hit.”

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING announcers Gus Johnson and Al Bernstein will call the action from ringside with Jim Gray and Karyn Bryant reporting from ringside. The executive producer of SHOWTIME Sports is David Dinkins Jr., with Bob Dunphy directing.

For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please visit the SHOWTIME Sports website at http://www.sho.com/sports.

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