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Nightmare comes home
re-ups with Freddie Roach's Wildcard outfit.
Homebound boxer pulls Wild Card
Boxing: Glendale’s own Martirosyan returns to Los Angeles and first pro trainer Roach.
By Gabriel Rizk
Published: Last Updated Wednesday, March 4, 2009 10:13 PM PST
GLENDALE — While moving forward in his ascent of the 154-pound division, super welterweight prospect Vanes “Nightmare” Martirosyan is coming back to the place where his professional career started.
In mid-February, the 22-year old former Olympian made the decision to break with Houston-based trainer Ronnie Shields and return to his hometown of Glendale. He has already resumed training with World Boxing Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach at Roach’s Wildcard Boxing Club in Hollywood and could be back in the ring as early as April.
“I’m at a stage in my career where every step is really big for me, it’s gonna determine whether I’m gonna make it or not,” said Martirosyan, who improved to 23-0 (14 knockouts) with an eight-round unanimous decision over Billy Lyell on Feb. 7 and is currently ranked 25th in the world in the super welterweight division by the World Boxing Council. “My goal is to be the best fighter I can be and me coming home, I’m coming back to the basics and having the great Freddie Roach get me to the next level.”
Martirosyan began his first stint with Roach, who has produced 17 world champions in a career spanning over 20 years, after signing his first professional contract with Top Rank Promotions in 2004. With Roach, he amassed a record of 17-0 with 11 KOs.
In Dec. 2007, Martirosyan moved to Houston and began training full-time with Shields at the Savannah Boxing Club, citing a need to escape the distractions caused by his budding celebrity in Glendale and the fact that Shields could provide more personal attention than Roach, who has as large and star-studded a client pool as any trainer in boxing.
Shields, an accomplished veteran trainer in his own right, guided Martirosyan to a 6-0 record during a 14-month stint that saw a rise in the quality of his opposition and his breakthrough to 10-round co-main event bouts.
But, in addition to wanting to return home, be around his family and get them more involved in his career, Martirosyan said one motivation for the change was to explore a departure from Shields’ directive of setting and planting his feet, staying in the pocket and throwing punches.
“Ronnie’s an excellent trainer,” Martirosyan said of Shields. “I feel like his style wasn’t really clicking with mine and I needed a change. I had some great results with Ronnie, but I think this move will help me get to the next step of my life.”
While Martirosyan said he won’t abandon the approach of slowing down and relying on his punching power, he does want to return to a more mobile style.
“I like to be on my toes and moving and throwing combinations,” he said. “That’s what I need. I miss that in myself and I want to work on it more.”
Shields said Martirosyan cited homesickness as a big factor when informing him of the decision, and he was understanding, even if disappointed.
“I told him, ‘If you can do better at home, that’s fine, but what’s the reason why you left [home] before to come down here in the first place,’” Shields said. “I understand, he’s 22 years old and he’s still a kid. ...Family is everything and I understood that. I’m not mad at him about anything, I’m just glad I had the opportunity to work with him.”
Martirosyan said his manager Shelly Finkel and his family back home had some initial trepidation about the idea of returning, but trusted in his decision.
He also said that Roach welcomed him back with open arms.
Martirosyan’s training camp and corner crew will now include his father, Norik, a former fighter who taught his son to box when he was 7 years old.
For his part, Martirosyan said he is more focused now and pledges to avoid the distractions that drove him to Houston in the first place and is confident that his development is a priority for the busy and sought-after Roach.
“I see a big difference in Freddie spending more time with me, which is good,” Martirosyan said. “That’s what I need.
“But the rest is all up to me and how I’m gonna perform.”
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Freddie hanging out with Mickey Rourke at Pacquiao-Hatton presser in LA earlier this week. http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slides...996747913.jpg/
Former heavyweight Michael Moorer joins Wildcard as trainer. http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=17908
Roach denies Iron Mike a trainer gig for Pacquiao-Hatton fight.
Homebound boxer pulls Wild Card
Boxing: Glendale’s own Martirosyan returns to Los Angeles and first pro trainer Roach.
By Gabriel Rizk
Published: Last Updated Wednesday, March 4, 2009 10:13 PM PST
GLENDALE — While moving forward in his ascent of the 154-pound division, super welterweight prospect Vanes “Nightmare” Martirosyan is coming back to the place where his professional career started.
In mid-February, the 22-year old former Olympian made the decision to break with Houston-based trainer Ronnie Shields and return to his hometown of Glendale. He has already resumed training with World Boxing Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach at Roach’s Wildcard Boxing Club in Hollywood and could be back in the ring as early as April.
“I’m at a stage in my career where every step is really big for me, it’s gonna determine whether I’m gonna make it or not,” said Martirosyan, who improved to 23-0 (14 knockouts) with an eight-round unanimous decision over Billy Lyell on Feb. 7 and is currently ranked 25th in the world in the super welterweight division by the World Boxing Council. “My goal is to be the best fighter I can be and me coming home, I’m coming back to the basics and having the great Freddie Roach get me to the next level.”
Martirosyan began his first stint with Roach, who has produced 17 world champions in a career spanning over 20 years, after signing his first professional contract with Top Rank Promotions in 2004. With Roach, he amassed a record of 17-0 with 11 KOs.
In Dec. 2007, Martirosyan moved to Houston and began training full-time with Shields at the Savannah Boxing Club, citing a need to escape the distractions caused by his budding celebrity in Glendale and the fact that Shields could provide more personal attention than Roach, who has as large and star-studded a client pool as any trainer in boxing.
Shields, an accomplished veteran trainer in his own right, guided Martirosyan to a 6-0 record during a 14-month stint that saw a rise in the quality of his opposition and his breakthrough to 10-round co-main event bouts.
But, in addition to wanting to return home, be around his family and get them more involved in his career, Martirosyan said one motivation for the change was to explore a departure from Shields’ directive of setting and planting his feet, staying in the pocket and throwing punches.
“Ronnie’s an excellent trainer,” Martirosyan said of Shields. “I feel like his style wasn’t really clicking with mine and I needed a change. I had some great results with Ronnie, but I think this move will help me get to the next step of my life.”
While Martirosyan said he won’t abandon the approach of slowing down and relying on his punching power, he does want to return to a more mobile style.
“I like to be on my toes and moving and throwing combinations,” he said. “That’s what I need. I miss that in myself and I want to work on it more.”
Shields said Martirosyan cited homesickness as a big factor when informing him of the decision, and he was understanding, even if disappointed.
“I told him, ‘If you can do better at home, that’s fine, but what’s the reason why you left [home] before to come down here in the first place,’” Shields said. “I understand, he’s 22 years old and he’s still a kid. ...Family is everything and I understood that. I’m not mad at him about anything, I’m just glad I had the opportunity to work with him.”
Martirosyan said his manager Shelly Finkel and his family back home had some initial trepidation about the idea of returning, but trusted in his decision.
He also said that Roach welcomed him back with open arms.
Martirosyan’s training camp and corner crew will now include his father, Norik, a former fighter who taught his son to box when he was 7 years old.
For his part, Martirosyan said he is more focused now and pledges to avoid the distractions that drove him to Houston in the first place and is confident that his development is a priority for the busy and sought-after Roach.
“I see a big difference in Freddie spending more time with me, which is good,” Martirosyan said. “That’s what I need.
“But the rest is all up to me and how I’m gonna perform.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Freddie hanging out with Mickey Rourke at Pacquiao-Hatton presser in LA earlier this week. http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slides...996747913.jpg/
Former heavyweight Michael Moorer joins Wildcard as trainer. http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=17908
Roach denies Iron Mike a trainer gig for Pacquiao-Hatton fight.
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