Sports Features Communications (press release), FL
Aug 15 2004

BOXING: Martirosyan Steps into the Ring For the First Time at the
Olympic Games

ATHENS, GREECE – Only nine months ago, welterweight (152 lbs/69 kg)
Vanes Martirosyan (Glendale, Calif.) could not have dreamed of what
he would be doing on Sunday, August 15. After winning four straight
qualifying tournaments in the months of February and March,
Martirosyan earned a spot on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team and
his dream became a reality. The 18-year-old will step into the ring
for the first time at the Olympic Games on Sunday to take on Benamar
Meskine of Algeria.

He will be the second U.S. boxer to compete, following middleweight
Andre Dirrell, who recorded a 25-18 victory over China’s Dabateer Ha
on Saturday. Martirosyan will be facing Meskine for the first time on
Sunday afternoon, but the young boxer is confident. He will be the
only U.S. boxer competing on Sunday and will be followed by
lightweight (132 lbs/60 kg) Vicente Escobedo (Woodland, Calif.) and
flyweight (112 lbs/51 kg) Ron Siler (Cincinnati, Ohio) on Monday and
Tuesday respectively.

Martirosyan should enjoy a large cheering section with several
members of family traveling from Glendale to support him as well as
one of his coaches Bobby Lee of Reno. Martirosyan was born in Armenia
but his family moved to California when he was only four-years-old.
He is hoping to use his opportunity to represent the United States in
the Olympic Games to thank the nation for welcoming his family.

Although the bout is his first in the Olympic Games, Martirosyan has
competed in the Peristeri Boxing Hall before, boxing in the Athens
Test Event in May where he won a bronze medal.

Martirosyan will be compete in the sixth bout of the afternoon
session, which will begin at 1:30 p.m. His bout is scheduled to begin
at approximately 2:45 p.m.

For more information, please contact Julie Goldsticker, boxing press
officer at (693) 677-2562.