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Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan (35-2-1, 27 KOs), of Vanadzor, Armenia, is facing rising Mexican star Abner Mares (20-0-1, 13 KOs) in the opening semifinal of the four-man Winner Takes All series Saturday, Dec. 11, from Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA.

If Darchinyan, the two-division world champion, wins his semifinal bout, he could face the last man to beat him, Ghanaian Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko (27-2, 22 KOs), of Bronx, N.Y., who won a close, unanimous decision in July 2009.

Agbeko’s opponent in the second semifinal is International Boxing Federation champ Yonnhy “El Colombiano” Perez (20-0-1, 14 KOs), of Santa Fe Springs, Calif., by way of Colombia.

Regardless of their previous achievements or missed opportunities, all four face an equal chance of becoming the ultimate Bantamweight fighter in the world.

The semifinal winners will fight for the crown in the final, while the losers will go into a consolation fight.

“I am very focused on the fight. This is the first time I have been training for this long. He [Mares] will fight me and I will be very good, fast and strong. He is going to remember me,” Darchinyan said in recent comments.

“It is going to be my show, my tournament. I am going to prove to everyone that I am very skillful and a good puncher. I am very prepared and confident,” he added.

Mares, meanwhile, was far more cautious in his talk, describing Darchinyan as “a tough, strong fighter, a champion.”

“Vic has proven that he is a power puncher and strong fighter,” he said. “I think speed is my advantage. I am ready for a slugfest or boxing match. I have trained really hard and this is going to be a great fight.”