Vanes Martirosyan has the opportunity of a lifetime. After two years out of the ring, Martirosyan will return May 5 to battle Gennady Golovkin at StubHub Center in Carson, California.
Martirosyan (36-3-1, 21 KOs) got the call after Golovkin had initially been scheduled to defend his WBC, WBA, IBF and IBO middleweight titles on May 5 in a rematch against Canelo Alvarez, but that fight was canceled when Alvarez withdrew after twice testing positive for the banned substance clenbuterol.
This is Martirosyan’s first fight at 160. However, he is very confident that he can shock the world:
“I’ve been training my ass off. I’m sparring, I’m on weight,” Martirosyan recently told the Los Angeles Times. “When they asked me if I’d take this fight, I said yes. I didn’t ask about money at all. It’s a good show for L.A. Cinco De Mayo. Armenians will pack the place. I have a lot of Mexican fans. I do believe in my heart I’m going to beat (Golovkin) because he’s never fought someone with my style.”
The last time the 31-year-old Martirosyan was in the ring he lost to Erislandy Lara by unanimous decision in 2016.
Martirosyan was chosen for a reason. Golovkin could have fought others, but he knows he needs to be ready for September when he can fight Canelo on Mexican Independence Day weekend.
