Athens Olympics official website
Aug 13 2004
Martirosyan (USA) going for gold
ATHENS, 5 August – American Welter Weight (69kg) Vanes Martirosyan
says he is going for gold in what is the toughest weight division in
the Olympic Games boxing tournament.
But to do so, the Armenian-born boxer will have to get past twice
World Champion Lorenzo Aragon Armenteros (CUB) and Oleg Saitov (RUS),
who is aiming to win his third Olympic gold medal.
At the Athens Olympic Test Event in May, Martirosyan lost to Aragon
Armenteros 36-29 in the semifinal.
But the American says he did not fight his own fight and the Cuban
tried to clinch throughout the bout.
`I am a better boxer than the Cuban and I know I can beat him,’ said
Martirosyan.
Martirosyan was introduced to the sport by his father, Norik, who had
also been an amateur boxer.
He is the third of four children and both his older and younger
brothers have also been involved in boxing.
His trainer, Bobby Lee, says Martirosyan is hard to hit and can score
points.
And he will need to score points if he is drawn against Aragon
Armenteros or Saitov.
The Russian scores well with methodical punching and counterpunching
and has strong defence.
Besides his two Olympic gold medals, Saitov also won the World
Championship in 1997 and two European titles (1998, 2004).
The Russian journalist could write himself into Olympic boxing
history if he wins in Athens.