Sports Features Communications (press release), FL
Aug 16 2004

BOXING: Welterweight Martirosyan Showcases the Olympic Spirit

ATHENS, GREECE – After welterweight (152 lbs/69 kg) Vanes Martirosyan
(Glendale, Calif.) earned a spot on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Boxing
Team, fellow Olympic Team Trials – Boxing competitor Andre Berto
(Winter Haven, Fla./Haiti) chose to use his dual citizenship to
compete for the Haitian Olympic Boxing team. Although the two
athletes were competitors, they always maintained a friendly
relationship, at least outside the ring.

Martirosyan and Berto share more than just boxing, both know what it
means to come to the Olympic Games representing two countries.
Martirosyan is boxing for the United States but feels that he is
competing for his native country of Armenia as well. Berto was boxing
for Haiti but the American teenager also wanted to make the United
States proud.

Martirosyan earned a first round victory on Sunday afternoon over
Benamar Meskine of Algeria, and Berto competed for the first time on
Sunday night. During Berto’s bout, Martirosyan stood in one of the
front rows of the Peristeri Boxing Hall in Athens, Greece.
Martirosyan didn’t just come to scout or watch his possible future
opponent, he stood and cheered for him, encouraging him in his first
round contest. Although Berto fell just short, losing 36-34 to Xavier
Noel of France, Martirosyan showed true class and sportsmanship as
well as the Olympic spirit in coming to support his fellow boxer.

Martirosyan will compete in his second round bout on Thursday,
August, 19, when he takes on defending World Champion Lorenzo
Armenteros Aragon.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress