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"I was very prepared for the fight, but with every opponent, a fight happens in different ways. Styles make fights. But I was very prepared. I trained very well for the fight."
 
But fighters are human, and you would think that headlining a card on Showtime against a recognizable name as opposed to being on a non-televised show facing a relatively unknown opponent will bring about a different level of motivation and focus.
 
"Of course," agreed Roach. "The thing is, this has to motivate him. Darchinyan, he's a dangerous guy if you give him confidence and let him be. But he's one of those guys at this point in his career, if you put it on him right away, you can take his heart away quickly."
 
The inference seems to be that Darchinyan is a bit of a bully. But if you stand up to him, you can take his lunch money, much the way Nonito Donaire did last summer in stopping him with a perfectly timed counter left hook.
 
No longer does he wear that cloak of invincibility. He knows now that he can be dented.
 
"Getting knocked out changes you," says the respected trainer. "When you realize that it can happen to you, it changes your mentality. He's not so fearless anymore; he's a little more cautious or careful and he'll pay for that."
 
But Kirilov sees the same Darchinyan that bulldozed his way through the majority of his opponents.
 
"I feel he's just as strong of a fighter and I don't think he's really changed his approach and his style of fighting," he says. "So I'm preparing for a very tough fight with a guy who definitely packs a punch."
 
This is a classic matchup of boxer versus puncher. But as Donaire showed, Darchinyan has to be made to respect his opponent’s power; otherwise, he comes downhill on you like an avalanche.

"Box, to a point, but you can't give this guy momentum," Roach points out. "Because if you give him momentum, he'll get stronger. You gotta make him respect you right away and put that doubt in his head and he'll be a lot more cautious. So we have to start fast in this fight and not let him bully us and be the bully he can be at times."
 
But most of all, Kirilov needs to be better than he was in February.
 
FRIDAY FLURRIES
 
Manager Cameron Dunkin confirmed to Maxboxing that IBF flyweight king Nonito Donaire will make his return to the ring on October 11th in Macau versus Moruti Mthalane. Jorge Arce could be on that same card and they are expected to meet sometime in the spring of 2009....A pair of Frank Espinoza prospects shined on Wednesday Night Fights, with Luis Ramos and Carlos Molina both impressive in stopping their foes. I think Ramos can really go places, as he can bang and box.....Should the rest of the NL West be worried that the Dodgers got Manny Ramirez?.....WBO welterweight champ Paul Williams will be in Los Angeles this Tuesday to talk to the media. I have a feeling it's not to discuss a rubbermatch with Carlos Quintana....Can you believe football season is just right around the corner? I can't wait to see 'Hard Knocks' on HBO with the Dallas Cowboys.....I think the Angels are the best team in baseball; if they don't win the World Series, it'll be a huge disappointment......