Boxing in Armenia

Boxing (Armenian: բռնցքամարտ břntsk'amart, literally "fist fight") in Armenia is a popular sport,^[1] that existed in the Armenian Highland since ancient times.^[2] Amateur boxing schools in the country appeared in early 1900s, by the mid-1950s boxing became one of the traditional sports in Armenia. In 1956 Vladimir Yengibaryan won a gold medal at the Olympics for the Soviet team. In early 21st century professional and amateur boxing in Armenia reached another peak. Most notably Arthur Abraham and Vic Darchinyan won several professional world champion titles. Dozens of amateur boxer have been placed in the top 3 of the world and Europe in their weight categories. Vladimir Yengibarian was the first man who opened boxing schools in Armenia

History

King Varazdat of Armenia

Ancient history

Boxing was practiced in the Armenian Highland since ancient times. Petroglyphs have been found in the region depicting a fight between two men, similar to boxing.^[2]

King of Armenia Varazdat (Varasdates) is often regarded as one of the last competitors in the Ancient Olympic Games. Varazdat's victory in fisticuffs is recorded in Moses of Chorene's History of Armenia. Since he reigned from 374–78, conjecture places his victory in the 360s,^[3] sometimes recorded in 369.^[4] The king's win is commemorated with a memorial plate in Olympia, Greece, at the Olympic Museum.^[5]

Modern history

The modern history of boxing in Armenia starts in the early twentieth century. The city of Shushi, then part of the Russian Empire, was a major center of Armenian cultural life in the Caucasus, was the location of the first boxing school, opened in 1910 by Ruben Harutyunian from England. It also hosted competitions that were held twice a year and lasted for about a decade until 1920.^[2]

2010 Armenian post stamp showing Vladimir Yengibaryan

Soviet era

The Soviet regime in Armenia was established in 1920. Four years later in 1924, Gevorg Alikhanian and Mkhitar Aybabian started the first boxing school in the city of Leninakan and a year later Alikhanian started training teenage boys in Yerevan. In 1931, the first Armenian boxing championship was held among 30 boxers. The sport developed mostly in the large urban areas.^[2]

The first major success of Armenian boxing took place in 1956. Vladimir Yengibaryan of Yerevan won a gold medal for the Soviet Union at the Melbourne Olympics. Soviet Armenian boxing reached it peak during the period from 1970s to early 1990s. Notable figures of the era include Mekhak Ghazaryan and Israyel Hakobkokhyan, with the later becoming a World Amateur Champion in 1989.^[2]

In 1957 Yengibaryan was awarded both the Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR and the Order of the Red Banner of Labour for his achievements in boxing. After finishing his career, he founded the first in the USSR Boxing Children and Youth Sport School in Yerevan.^[6]

Independent era

Armenia became an independent state in 1991. The Armenian Boxing Federation, governing body of the sport in Armenia, was founded the same year. In two years it was admitted to the European Amateur Boxing Association and International Boxing Association as a full member.^[2]

Numerous professional Armenian boxers came to international fame, some representing Armenia, some foreign countries. Vic Darchinyan and Arthur Abraham both won IBF titles in Flyweight and Middleweight categories respectively are the most notable ones.^[7]

Armenia has two Boxing World Cup champions. Nshan Munchyan was undefeated in 48 kg category in 1994.^[8] Andranik Hakobyan stood at the top of the 75 kg category in 2008.^[9] In amateur boxing, Armenian athletes have been relatively successful. Nshan Munchyan became a World Champion in 1993 in Light Flyweight. Hovhannes Danielyan (2008), Eduard Hambardzumyan (2008) and Hrachik Javakhyan (2010) became Champions of Europe.^[10][11][12]

On September 3, 2011, the first ever professional boxing event in Armenia took place in the Karen Demirchyan Sports Complex.^[13] All Armenian boxers won their matches. The event was headlined by Vic Darchinyan and Evans Mbamba. Darchinyan defeated Mbamba to retain his IBO Bantamweight title.^[14] Armenia hosted the 2012 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships from November 25 to December 8 in Yerevan.^[15]

Records

Olympics

During the Soviet era, two boxers from Yerevan, Armenian SSR also won Olympic medals. Vladimir Yengibaryan acquired a gold medal in 1956 and David Torosyan a bronze medal in 1976.^[16][17]

The only Olympic medal for Armenia was won by Hrachik Javakhyan at the 2008 Beijing Games.^[18]

Professional World Championships

Arthur Abraham (left) and Vic Darchinyan (right).

Men

Two boxers: Vic Darchinyan and Arthur Abraham have won several world champion titles, which are listed below.

Boxer	Organization	Weight	Years
Vic Darchinyan[19]	IBF	Flyweight	2004-2007
	IBF	Super Flyweight	2008-2009
	WBC	Super Flyweight	2008-2010
	WBA	Super Flyweight	2008-2010
Arthur Abraham[20]	IBF	Middleweight	2005-2009
	WBO	Super Middleweight	2012-

Women

German Armenian boxer Susianna Kentikian have won numerous world champion titles, which are listed below.^[21]

Boxer	Organization	Weight	Years
Susianna Kentikian	WBA	Flyweight	2007-2012
	WIBF	Flyweight	2007-2012
	WBO	Flyweight	2009-2012

Amateur World Championships

Year	Athlete	Weight	Position	Ref
1993 Tampere	Nshan Munchyan	Light Flyweight (–48 kilograms)	Gold	[10]
1993 Tampere	Arszak Avartekyan	Heavyweight (–91 kilograms)	Bronze	[10]
1995 Berlin	Artur Mikelyan	Bantamweight (–54 kilograms)	Bronze	[22]
1997 Budapest	Aram Ramazyan	Bantamweight (–54 kilograms)	Bronze	[23]
2005 Mianyang	Artak Malumyan	Light Heavyweight (–81 kilograms)	Bronze	[24]
2009 Milan	Andranik Hakobyan	Middleweight (–75 kilograms)	Silver	[25]

European Championships

Eduard Hambardzumyan (left) won a gold medal at the 2008 European Championship

Year	Athlete	Weight	Position	Ref
1993 Bursa	Mechak Kasaryan	Lightweight (–60 kg)	Bronze	[26]
1993 Bursa	Armen Gevorkyan	Light Welterweight (–63.5 kg)	Bronze	[26]
1998 Minsk	Vachtang Darchinyan	Flyweight (–51 kilograms)	Bronze	[27]
1998 Minsk	Artyom Simonyan	Featherweight (–57 kilograms)	Silver	[27]
1998 Minsk	Artur Gevorkyan	Lightweight (–60 kilograms)	Bronze	[27]
2000 Tampere	Aram Ramazyan	Bantamweight (–54 kilograms)	Bronze	[28]
2000 Tampere	Bagrat Oghanian	Super Heavyweight (+91 kilograms)	Bronze	[28]
2002 Perm	Marat Tovmasian	Heavyweight (–91 kilograms)	Bronze	[28]
2006 Plovdiv	Hovhannes Danielyan	Light Flyweight (–48 kilograms)	Bronze	[29]
2006 Plovdiv	Hrachik Javakhyan	Lightweight (–60 kilograms)	Silver	[29]
2008 Liverpool	Hovhannes Danielyan	Light Flyweight (–48 kilograms)	Gold	[11]
2008 Liverpool	Eduard Hambardzumyan	Light Welterweight (–64 kilograms)	Gold	[11]
2008 Liverpool	Tsolak Ananikyan	Heavyweight (–91 kilograms)	Silver	[11]
2010 Moscow	Hovhannes Danielyan	Light Flyweight (–48 kilograms)	Bronze	[12]
2010 Moscow	Hrachik Javakhyan	Light Welterweight (–64 kilograms)	Gold	[12]
2010 Moscow	Artur Khachatryan	Light Heavyweight (–81 kilograms)	Bronze	[12]
2011 Ankara	Vladimir Saruhanyan	Lightweight (–60 kg)	Bronze	[30]

World Cup

Year	Athlete	Weight	Position	Ref
1994 Bangkok	Nshan Munchyan	Light Flyweight (–48 kg)	Gold	[8]
1998 Beijing	Vakhtang Darchinyan	Flyweight (–51 kg)	Bronze	[31]
1998 Beijing	Aram Ramazyan	Bantamweight (–54 kg)	Bronze	[31]
1998 Beijing	Artyom Simonyan	Featherweight (–57 kg)	Bronze	[31]
2008 Moscow	Andranik Hakobyan	Middleweight (–75 kg)	Gold	[9]

References

1. Hoehner, Jane (1999). Junior Worldmark encyclopedia of world cultures. Detroit, Mich.: UXL. p. 72. ISBN 9780787617578.
2. "Armenian Boxing Federation". European Boxing Confederation. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
3. Young, David C. (2004). A Brief History of the Olympic Games. Wiley-Blackwell. p. 135. ISBN 1-4051-1130-5.
4. Wallechinsky, David (2004). The complete book of the summer Olympics: Athens 2004 edition (Athens 2004 ed.). Wilmington, Delaware: Sport Classic Books. p. 4. ISBN 9781894963329.
5. Arman Sanentz (August 13, 2012). "Armenian Olympians: Ancient Olympiads to London 2012". The Armenian Weekly. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
6. "Vladimir Nikolaevich Yengibaryan – BOXING". HyeFighters.com. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
7. Sukachev, Alexey (21 September 2011). "Arthur Abraham, Vic Darchinyan Honored in Armenia". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
8. "7.World Cup - Bangkok, Thailand - June 1994". Amateur Boxing Results. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
9. "World Cup - Moscow, Russia - December 10-14 2008". International Boxing Association. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
10. "7.World Championships - Tampere, Finland - May 7-16 1993". Amateur Boxing Results. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
11. "37.European Championships - Liverpool, England - November 6-15 2008". Amateur Boxing Results. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
12. "38.European Championships - Moscow, Russia - June 5-12 2010". Amateur Boxing Results. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
13. "Locations in Armenia". BoxRec.com. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
14. "Karen Demirchyan Sports Complex, Yerevan, Armenia". BoxRec.com. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
15. "2012 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships". AIBA. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
16. "Vladimir Yengibaryan". databaseOlympics.com. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
17. "David Torosyan". databaseOlympics.com. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
18. "Hrachik Javakhyan". Sports Reference. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
19. "Vic Darchinyan". BoxRec. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
20. "Arthur Abraham". BoxRec. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
21. "Susi Kentikian". BoxRec. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
22. "8.World Championships - Berlin, Germany - May 6-14 1995". Amateur Boxing Results. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
23. "9.World Championships - Budapest, Hungary - October 18-26 1997". Amateur Boxing Results. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
24. "WorldChamps 2005". Amateur Boxing Results. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
25. "15.World Championships - Milan, Italy - September 1-12 2009". Amateur Boxing Results. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
26. "30.European Championships - Bursa, Turkey - September 6-12 1993". Amateur Boxing Results. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
27. "32.European Championships - Minsk, Belarus - May 17-24 1998". Amateur Boxing Results. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
28. "33.European Championships - Tampere, Finland - May 13-21 2000". Amateur Boxing Results. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
29. "36.European Championships - Plovdiv, Bulgaria - July 14-23 2006". Amateur Boxing Results. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
30. "39.European Championships - Ankara, Turkey - June 17-24 2011" (PDF). Amateur Boxing Results. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
31. "8.World Cup - Beijing, China - June 1998". amateur-boxing.strefa.pl. Retrieved 14 February 2013.