When Dorian Darch steps between the ropes, expect carnage.
From the first bell till the last, the Welshman comes out swinging and doesn’t let up.
During an eight-fight (4-4) career in bare-knuckle boxing, Darch has either flattened his opponent or been forced out of the contest via a doctor’s stoppage.
The 40-year-old from the rolling hills of Aberdare is the first to admit he has ‘skin like tracing paper’.
“I was born with rubbish skin and that is it, you can’t do anything about it,” he told talkSPORT.com.
“I just have to knock someone out before they cut me.”
It’s an approach that has led to some enthralling fights and some horror cuts.
Last August, Darch had his ear split in half by a nicking shot from Ukraine’s Volodymyr Skurtu on a BKB card in Cardiff.
Six months later, in his return to Britain’s premier bare-knuckle boxing promotion, he blasted away Gary Slator in 38 seconds.
Even when he gets his hand raised, it is rare for him to leave the ring without wearing a crimson mask.
The epitome of a live by the sword, die by the sword fighter.
On Saturday night in Cardiff, Dorian is aiming to continue that trend against Poland’s Eryk Madja on the main card of BKB 40, live on the talkSPORT Boxing YouTube channel from 7pm.
*GRAPHIC WARNING*
BKBDarch had his ear split by a shot last year in bare-knuckle[/caption]
Action Images – ReutersHis pro career included a bout with Joshua, fresh off his Olympic gold[/caption]
“He’s tough,” Darch remarked. “All Polish people are tough. He’s a come-forward fighter.
“That makes for a good fight. I’m looking for a quick night’s work.
“It’s either all going for him or all against him. I’m hoping it will go against him on this one.”
Darch’s switch to bare-knuckle boxing comes after a 25-fight (12-12-1) career in professional gloved boxing that included bouts with future heavyweight world champions Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.
‘Dark Fruits’ won his first six fights before he was stopped by ‘Lay Em Out’ Ian Lewison 13 years ago in a bout that would alter the trajectory of his career.
BKB 40 full card and details
The full event can be viewed on the talkSPORT Boxing YouTube channel here from 7pm UK time.
Liam Rees vs Martin Reffell – BKB super welterweight title fight
Daniel Podmore vs Emil Markic – BKB bridgerweight title fight
Dorian Darch vs Eryk Majda
Tyler Goodjohn vs Joe Smith
Keiron Harding vs Robert Koky
Ash Williams vs Callum Nulty
Daniel Lerwell vs Danny Worsfold
Martin McDonough vs Marcin Kosiak
Corey Healey vs Salim Jamshidi
Aaron Ashton vs Anthony Scotford
Will Dermietzel vs Nikcy Potts
Geraint Goodridge vs Frankie Curry
In the years that followed, Darch went out on the road as he transitioned from prospect to journeyman boxer.
One of his first assignments in his important yet underappreciated role was a domestic dust-up with a young AJ at the Cardiff International Arena in 2014.
“I wasn’t like a lot of journeymen, I went in there looking to land a shot that would finish the fight,” Darch added.
“Unfortunately, against Anthony Joshua, I only landed one and that p**** him off.
“He’s just f***** massive. Until you see someone in the flesh, you don’t realise how big they are.
“I think we actually weighed the same on the day, but he looked about two stone heavier than me stood next to me.
“And he hit like he was stone heavier than me as well.”
Darch looked to roll the dice against the Watford powerhouse, but he was punished for his bravery by a booming left hook early in the second round that rocked him to his boots.
Four years later, after trading wins and losses with varying levels of opposition, Darch duked it out with Dubois at the Copper Box Arena.
‘Triple D, ‘ who was only 19 at the time, decked Darch thrice in the opening round.
Yet, to his credit, Darch found his way back to his feet each time until referee Bob Williams made the compassionate decision to step in and wave off the contest mid-way through the second stanza.
Darch’s final bow as a professional came in 2020 against Dave Allen in a fight marred by controversy.
The British Boxing Board of Control and the Gambling Commission launched an investigation into allegations of suspicious betting activity relating to the round in which the fight was stopped.
Allen took Darch out in the third frame, which opened at 9-2 with bookmakers but was so heavily backed it ended in evens.
This led to accusations that Darch had taken a dive, but the rugged veteran denies those claims to this day.
“I was driving home on the Monday morning, and I had people phoning me telling me I was on the back of the Daily Star for taking a dive,” Darch explained.
“I never got interviewed about it, it was all f***** heresay that spiralled out of control.
“I wouldn’t still be working [as a civil engineer] if I took some dive money, would I?
“He knocked me over with a good shot, and I’d only taken the fight on a week’s notice.
“I just didn’t get up, I was hurt. He’s heavy-handed; he’s knocked a few people out cold. He knocked out Nick Webb cold, and he is twice the size of me.”
