Canelo’s Nightmare! Million to One Armenian Underdog Vanes Martirosyan Gets GGG
Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Armenian junior middleweight Vanes ‘Nightmare’ Martirosyan has been out of the ring for a year, and has only one win on of his last three bouts in the last three years. With Saul Canelo Alvarez suspended for six months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for doping, somebody had to be found to fight Gennady Golovkin. Six months leaves open the possibility of GGG fighting a rematch with Canelo in September 2018.
Martirosyan, 36-3-1 with 21 knockouts, Glendale, California by way of Armenia, is getting the last minute chance of a world title lifetime by stepping in to fight GGG on HBO at StubHub Center in Carson, California, on May 5, 2018. GGG’s WBC, WBA and IBO world middleweight titles will be at stake. Only 18 days to the weigh-in, 19 days till the fight.
Golovkin, 37-0-1, 33 knockouts, Los Angeles, California, by way of Kazakhstan, is 36 years old. There are those experts who will argue Canelo is actually at an advantage in the pending 2018 rematch of his 12 round titular draw with GGG because GGG is getting older, and from Bennie Briscoe to Sugar Ray Robinson, it gets hard for middleweights as they grow older.
Martirosyan, even if he loses his once in a lifetime chance with GGG, must be viewed by quality of opponent in his losses. GGG, Erislandy Lara, Demetrius Andrade and Jermell Charlo combine for 104 wins, two losses and two draws at the time he fought them. Martirosyan claims his inactivity is due to opponents who backed out. Martirosyan has never been knocked out or stopped. Nonetheless, GGG is in his prime and should stop Martirosyan within eight or nine rounds.
Martirosyan has no right stepping into a world middleweight title bout with no previous experience at 160 pounds, which might exactly the reason he was picked. It is a strange sanction, but he was available, in condition and willing to take the bout and the payday. The payday won’t be easy to earn, given GGG’s experience and level of ability. Still, boxing fans love to admire and root for the underdog. Martirosyan is not a monster draw, but still might make for an exciting HBO contest while it lasts. GGG is too fast for all, save Canelo, who should have been fighting GGG now but blew his chance. Some boxing experts think Canelo’s suspension should have been longer. Canelo’s tainted meat story remains suspect, but not enough to kayo his GGG rematch. God Bless America in Carson City for this bout.
GENNADY GOLOVKIN vs. VANES MARTIROSYAN
CINCO DE MAYO WORLD TITLE FIGHT EVENT
IS A HOT TICKET FOR STUBHUB CENTER!
Record Capacity Crowd Projected For
GGG’s Historic Record-Tying Title Defense
CARSON, CALIF. (April 19, 2018) — The World Middleweight Championship battle between boxing’s longest-reigning champion GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN and two-time world title challenger and fellow 2004 Olympian VANES “THE NIGHTMARE” MARTIROSYAN is one hot ticket! The Cinco De Mayo extravaganza will take place on Saturday, May 5, under the stars at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. HBO World Championship Boxing® will televise it live at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT. Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs), from Karaganda, Kazakhstan will be looking to successfully defend his middleweight crown for a record-tying 20th consecutive time when he goes mano a mano against Martirosyan (36-3-1, 21 KOs), a native of Armenia who hails from Glendale, Calif..
Golovkin and Martirosyan boast a combined record of 73-3-2 (54 KOs) — a winning percentage of 94% with close to 3/4 of those victories coming by way of knockout.
Exciting all-action undercard bouts, featuring current and former world champions, are expected to be announced this week.
“Gennady is a huge draw in Southern, California. All three of his Los Angeles area world title fights have sold out., said Tom Loeffler, Golovkin’s promoter. “It’s been over two years since Gennady last fought in his adopted hometown. That combined with the event taking place on Cinco De Mayo, has created a tremendous demand for tickets to this fight. Gennady set the attendance record for boxing at StubHub in 2014 and we project to shatter that record on May 5. Tecate will also be hosting a Cinco De Mayo fan fest that evening at StubHub Center. Throw in the ultimate Mexican-Style boxer in Gennady Golovkin and you have yourself an amazing fistival!”
“It is going to be a great fight – it is going to be a battle of wills,” said Hall of Fame promoter Don King, who promotes Martirosyan. “GGG is a great fighter — he has four belts — and is supposed to be the best there is. But Vanes has heart, a strong will, and the desire of an Armenian with a never say die attitude, and he is coming to fight. The ticket to this event is going to be hot. This is a hot fight and it’s provocative. You’re not going to be able to go the restroom and you better get your popcorn and sit right there to watch it. It’s going to be a super fight and I am looking forward to it. Vanes’ desire and the will to win — that’s what creates a hell of a fight, because you don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Promoted by GGG promotions, in association with Don King Productions, and sponsored by Tecate, Chivas Regal, Jordan and Hublot, remaining tickets to the Golovkin vs. Martirosyan world championship event are priced at $750, $500, $300, $200, $100 (sold out) and $50 (sold out), and may be purchased online at https://www.axs.com/events/353331/golovkin-vs-martirosyan-tickets?ref=edp_twpost, by phone at (888) 9AXS-TIX, or by visiting the StubHub Center box office.
For more information, www.hbo.com/boxing; follow on Twitter @gggboxing, @hboboxing, @VanesBoxing, and @TomLoeffler1; become a fan on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/gggboxing, and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing; follow on Instagram @gggboxing, @vanesboxing,and @HBOboxing.
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