MARTIROSYAN WINS TWO BELTS

Glendale News Press
Dec 20 2009
CA

Boxing: Local welterweight takes home NABF, NABO titles with
third-round KO of Willie Lee in Youngstown, Ohio. The belts are first
of his professional career.

GLENDALE –Vanes "The Nightmare" Martirosyan has scored impressive
knockouts and dominated opponents with regularity over the last
four-plus years, but what the Glendale-based welterweight did to
Willie Lee on Saturday night at the Beeghly Center in Youngstown,
Ohio came with an extra reward — two of them, to be exact.

Martirosyan scored a third-round technical-knockout win over Lee to
capture the North American Boxing Federation and North American Boxing
Organization super welterweight titles, the first of his professional
career, which has seen him amass an unbeaten record of 26-0 with 17
knockouts since debuting in April, 2005.

"I feel really good, I worked really hard and I have a good team
behind me and I thank them very much," the 23-year-old Armenian native
said. "There’s more and bigger things to come and we’re ready for
that. This is just step one of the big things to come."

Martirosyan’s trainer Freddie Roach echoed that sentiment, more
specifically calling for the opportunity to fight for a world title in
post-fight comments posted on Martirosyan’s website on Saturday night.

"Vanes is ready for a world title shot," said Roach, who cornered
Martirosyan on Saturday along with Alex Ariza and Roma Kalantaryan.

"He’s 26-0, done his homework, he is ready for the big fight."

Martirosyan had Lee down twice in the fight, including once in the
third round, courtesy of a crushing right.

Lee (17-6, 11 KOs) was down for a count of eight before regaining
his feet. After a brief stoppage because of Lee’s mouthpiece being
knocked out, the bout resumed and Martirosyan quickly put it to an end,
forcing a stoppage with a flurry of punches at the 2:13 mark.

"When he went down, I was surprised that he got up," Martirosyan said.

"When he recovered the mouthpiece, I looked at the corner and Freddie
told me to jump on him and I did and got him out."

Martirosyan came out on fire at the opening bell, staying behind his
jab and winging left hooks. Another right had Lee in trouble early, but
he survived to reach a second round that was more even, as Lee tried to
fire back with combinations and came forward with his jab in the third.

"I got too excited in the first round and I tried to knock him out,"
Martirosyan said. "I just went back to the game plan and calmed down
in Round 2 and Round 3."

Martirosyan rated his own performance as a "B," but said he never
felt stronger and was pleased with changes his trainers had made for
the fight.

"It all worked out for the best, we worked on a lot of power,"
Martirosyan said. "Every fight, we’re just getting better and better
and I’m thankful for my team for what they did for me."