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Boxing: Simonyan fights for world title!

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  • Boxing: Simonyan fights for world title!

    Boxing News
    Dec 28 2004

    Simonyan fights for world title!

    By Francisco Salazar

    Unbeaten #1 rated super bantamweight Art Simonyan hopes to make
    himself and his native Armenia proud when he faces Israel Vasquez for
    the IBF world championship tonight at the Sycuan Casino in El Cajon,
    CA.

    The bout will headline a six-bout card, presented by Ringside Boxing
    Promotions and Banner Promotions.

    Simonyan (14-0-1, 7 KO's) from Glendale, CA by way of Yerevan,
    Armenia, had his coming out party with a technical knockout victory
    over Radford Beasley on an ESPN2 Friday Nights Fights telecast in
    December of 2002.

    The following year, he won the USBA 122lb title with a a 12 round
    unanimous decision against former world title challenger Carlos
    Contreras in July 2003.

    In May of 2004, he earned the right to face Vasquez when he defeated
    Fahsan (3K-Battery) Por Thawatchai by a 12 round unanimous decision
    in May. The bout was designated as an elimination bout.

    Simonyan realized the significance of his last bout. However, he also
    understands the importance of this fight. "I'm training for
    everything in this bout. This is a big bout for me."

    Simonyan has had to endure numerous obstacles in his quest to fight
    for a world title.

    After a successful amateur career in Armenia, in 2000 Simonyan left
    behind his pregnant wife and moved to Glendale, California, which has
    an Armenian community of about 350,000. He has never seen his
    daughter, who is four years old now. He speaks to his family by
    telephone, but greatly misses their presence.

    Simonyan turned 29 yesterday, but instead of celebrating his birthday
    with loved ones, he spent part of it making sure he made weight on
    the scales.

    Simonyan hopes that these sacrifices will pay off big. He understands
    that Vasquez, who has won his last four bouts in a row, will be in
    top form to defend his title.

    "He's a boxer who will come to fight," said Simonyan, who has won his
    last seven bouts in a row. "I know that he likes to brawl. I feel
    that I did my homework so that I could come out victorious."

    Until this month, no Armenian fighter has ever won a world
    championship. Now Simonyan hopes to become the second Aremian this
    month to do the deed. (Flyweight Vic Darchinyan became the first
    Armenian champion when he KO'd Irene Pacheco for the IBF title on
    December 16 in Miami , Florida.)

    His co-trainer, Peter Cunningham, feels that Simonyan is up to that
    challenge. He has seen Simonyan improve since early in his career.

    "We all know a good fighter when you see one," said Cunningham, one
    day after Simonyan was finished training for the day. "Since the
    first day when I saw Art in the gym, I knew and recognized that he
    would one day be champion of the world. I love his skill, his sense
    of purpose, and his attitude is great. He definitely has the tools of
    a champion."

    As Simonyan has grown to the solid fighter that he has become, he has
    also accumulated a mixture of bravado and maturity. He has gone as
    far as saying that he as a surprise for Vasquez, something that not
    even his previous opponents have seen. Still, Simonyan notes what the
    stakes are for this fight.

    "This is the most important fight of my career. If I win this fight,
    my success will begin.".

    http://www.fightnews.com/salazar405.htm
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