San Diego Union Tribune, CA
Dec 26 2004
Armenian hopes title shot at Sycuan becomes work of art
By Jerry Magee
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
December 26, 2004
Not many fighters challenge for an IBF title in their 16th
professional appearance. But not many have an amateur background as
extensive as Art Simonyan’s.
Before coming to this country from his native Armenia, Simonyan
(14-0-1, 7 KOs) had as many as 250 amateur bouts, by the count of
Harry Kazandjian, the manager/trainer of the fighter who opposes
Israel Vasquez of Mexico for Vasquez’s IBF junior featherweight
championship Tuesday evening at the Sycuan Resort and Casino.
It was Kazandjian, also an Armenian, who brought Simonyan to the
United States. Kazandjian said he had received a call from an
acquaintance in Armenia before the 2000 Olympics alerting him to
Simonyan’s potential. When Armenia did not have the funds to send the
boxer to the games, Kazandjian summoned him.
“He has all the credentials you can imagine,” contended Kazandjian,
who once handled light welterweight contender Hector Lopez. “He can
punch and he can box and he has one thing Lopez didn’t have – he has
discipline. He doesn’t smoke or drink, and he is always in the gym.”
As if boxing for an IBF title isn’t incentive enough, Simonyan has
one in Armenia, according to Kazandjian: a 4-year-old daughter he has
never seen. If Simonyan gets past Vasquez, Kazandjian said his reward
is going to be a trip to Armenia to see his daughter.
Simonyan’s promoter, Art Pelullo of Philadelphia, is predicting that
Simonyan is going to wrest the title from Vasquez (36-3, 26 KOs), who
claimed it when he stopped Jose Luis Valbuena in the 12th round of a
March match at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. Vasquez thus
became the 100th Mexican to win a world championship.
“But Simonyan can fight,” argued Pelullo. “I’m telling you he is
going to win the fight. He’s a tough kid, and he takes a good whack.”
Vasquez is boxing for the first time since he came under the
promotional aegis of Sycuan Ringside Promotions. The Tuesday bout is
being offered in the Sycuan Showcase Theater, with doors opening at
5:30 p.m. and the first bout at 6 p.m. The program is not being
televised.
Two bouts involving women are included on the undercard. Tickets are
$100, $200, and $250.
Sycuan boxing
Who: Israel Vasquez (36-3, 26 KOs) of Los Angeles defends his IBF
junior featherweight title against No. 1 contender Art Simonyan
(14-0-1, 7 KOs) of Glendale
When: Tuesday (the seven-bout card begins at 6 p.m.)
Where: Sycuan Resort and Casino, Showcase Theater, El Cajon
TV: Not televised
Tickets: $100, $200, $250. Available at Sycuan or by phone, (619)
445-6002.
Noteworthy: This is Vasquez’s first defense since stopping Jose Luis
Valbuena to win the vacant 122-pound title in March; Vasquez is from
Mexico but fights out of L.A.