Fibroso
03-24-2015, 10:46 PM
Martirosyan: 'Can't wait to fight'
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2014/1007/box_e_Martirosyan-nelson02jr_576x324.jpgEd Diller for ESPNVanes Martirosyan, right, will test up-and-coming junior middleweight Jermell Charlo on Saturday.
Taking on tough challenges is what junior middleweight Vanes Martirosyan has proved to be all about, having tangled with two of the division's most difficult pure boxers in recent years.
Martirosyan (35-1-1, 21 KOs) will get another chance to test himself on that level when he faces unbeaten Jermell Charlo (25-0, 11 KOs) on Saturday at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas (Showtime, 10 p.m. ET).
Martirosyan-CharloWhere: Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada
When: Sat. 10 p.m. ET
TV: Showtime
Charlo, 24, the twin brother of fellow unbeaten 154-pound fighter Jermall, doesn't have the same level of experience as Martirosyan, but he certainly doesn't lack in talent.
Martirosyan, 28, who fought to a draw with Erislandy Lara in 2012 and lost a split decision in a vacant title fight against Demetrius Andrade the following year, recently spoke with ESPN.com about preparing for Charlo and much more:
What does this fight mean to your career at this point?
My thoughts are that I'm happy and excited. I just can't wait to get in there. I've been here before in front of the lights and everything. I just love being under those lights. It's another great opportunity, and I just can't wait to fight.
The Charlo brothers appear to be equally talented. You will be facing Jermell. How have you been able to tell them apart in the ring?
I think one of them has more tattoos than the other one. [He laughs.] I'm fighting the one with less tattoos on his chest, I think.
What part of Jermell's game will you need to be most prepared for?
He has a really good jab. He's a very good all-around boxer. I've never seen him brawl and I've never seen him go on the inside. He's a very good boxer.
As you mentioned, Charlo typically boxes from the outside and relies on his speed. As far as styles are concerned, will that force you to become the aggressor?
Well, the guys that he has faced throughout his whole career are guys who he has looked good against because of his speed. I've never seen him really fight against somebody, other than [Gabriel] Rosado, who was really just walking in on punches. I'm more of a boxer, and we used to box a lot when I was in Houston, Texas. So his strength is his speed, but he never fought anybody with my speed and my power, so it will be interesting to see what he does with that.
How much have the two of you sparred together in the past?
I was there for two years, sparring with him and his brother. They were the only ones in my weight class over there. But I couldn't go really all-out on them and had to use only my jab because [Charlo trainer] Ronnie [Shields] didn't want me to use the right hand.
What kind of statement do you believe you made in your all-action victory over Willie Nelson last October?
The Willie Nelson fight was great. We put the work in the gym. In Round 5, we had to step it up. I came to my corner and my corner told me, "You know what? We're not in California anymore. We're over here and we're almost in his hometown so you have to step it up." We had to bite hard and go deep. The Andrade fight and [promoter] Mr. Dan Goossen passing also had to do with it. They all gave me strength and that's what pulled me to victory.
It appears your style is currently evolving into a fighter who is more willing to step on the gas pedal. How accurate is that statement?
It is, and that's because of the loss I have against Andrade. When you come home, you don't want that feeling that you lost and feel like you let people down, like your family. It's really hard to look at my kid and my wife after that. It was really hard. [Against Nelson] I had to think about that and I didn't want to feel that feeling again of coming home a loser again.
What's at stake for you in this fight?
I think this fight is more of a test for him than me. I've already been in a lot of fights and been on this stage before. I know how to handle myself now and a lot better than before. I think it will be more of a test for him than it is for me and my job is to make sure that he fails that test.
How much will your advantage in experience play a role in this fight?
We will see in the fight and how he handles it. Some people handle it very well and some people don't. We'll see how he does. But no matter how he does, we know what we're going to do in the fight.
The Charlo brothers are big on using the hashtag #LionsOnly on social media. What does that mean to you?
That's cool, I respect them. You always have to respect kids who are undefeated and I respect them for being good fighters. But if this ends in under 10 rounds I'm going to be the lion killer on Saturday night. It doesn't matter #LionsOnly or "Nightmare" or whatever your nickname is, when it comes to a fight it's what you do in the ring. So we'll see on Saturday night if he is a lion.
Trainer Joe Goossen's influence in your corner appears to have been a big one of late. But how influential has he been from a fashion standpoint? This guy has got some serious style, right?
Yeah, he looks good. He makes sure he looks good all the time. [He laughs.] But no, not really. It's good to look good, but sometimes it does get annoying. But Joe is Joe and that's how he gets down.
What would a victory do for your standing within the division?
Right now I'm No. 2 in the WBC and No. 2 in WBO, so hopefully it gets me to the No. 1 spot and I get to get the title that Andrade took from me. Hopefully in the WBC I get to fight Canelo [Alvarez] or somebody. Hopefully another big name will come up after this fight against Charlo.
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2014/1007/box_e_Martirosyan-nelson02jr_576x324.jpgEd Diller for ESPNVanes Martirosyan, right, will test up-and-coming junior middleweight Jermell Charlo on Saturday.
Taking on tough challenges is what junior middleweight Vanes Martirosyan has proved to be all about, having tangled with two of the division's most difficult pure boxers in recent years.
Martirosyan (35-1-1, 21 KOs) will get another chance to test himself on that level when he faces unbeaten Jermell Charlo (25-0, 11 KOs) on Saturday at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas (Showtime, 10 p.m. ET).
Martirosyan-CharloWhere: Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada
When: Sat. 10 p.m. ET
TV: Showtime
Charlo, 24, the twin brother of fellow unbeaten 154-pound fighter Jermall, doesn't have the same level of experience as Martirosyan, but he certainly doesn't lack in talent.
Martirosyan, 28, who fought to a draw with Erislandy Lara in 2012 and lost a split decision in a vacant title fight against Demetrius Andrade the following year, recently spoke with ESPN.com about preparing for Charlo and much more:
What does this fight mean to your career at this point?
My thoughts are that I'm happy and excited. I just can't wait to get in there. I've been here before in front of the lights and everything. I just love being under those lights. It's another great opportunity, and I just can't wait to fight.
The Charlo brothers appear to be equally talented. You will be facing Jermell. How have you been able to tell them apart in the ring?
I think one of them has more tattoos than the other one. [He laughs.] I'm fighting the one with less tattoos on his chest, I think.
What part of Jermell's game will you need to be most prepared for?
He has a really good jab. He's a very good all-around boxer. I've never seen him brawl and I've never seen him go on the inside. He's a very good boxer.
As you mentioned, Charlo typically boxes from the outside and relies on his speed. As far as styles are concerned, will that force you to become the aggressor?
Well, the guys that he has faced throughout his whole career are guys who he has looked good against because of his speed. I've never seen him really fight against somebody, other than [Gabriel] Rosado, who was really just walking in on punches. I'm more of a boxer, and we used to box a lot when I was in Houston, Texas. So his strength is his speed, but he never fought anybody with my speed and my power, so it will be interesting to see what he does with that.
How much have the two of you sparred together in the past?
I was there for two years, sparring with him and his brother. They were the only ones in my weight class over there. But I couldn't go really all-out on them and had to use only my jab because [Charlo trainer] Ronnie [Shields] didn't want me to use the right hand.
What kind of statement do you believe you made in your all-action victory over Willie Nelson last October?
The Willie Nelson fight was great. We put the work in the gym. In Round 5, we had to step it up. I came to my corner and my corner told me, "You know what? We're not in California anymore. We're over here and we're almost in his hometown so you have to step it up." We had to bite hard and go deep. The Andrade fight and [promoter] Mr. Dan Goossen passing also had to do with it. They all gave me strength and that's what pulled me to victory.
It appears your style is currently evolving into a fighter who is more willing to step on the gas pedal. How accurate is that statement?
It is, and that's because of the loss I have against Andrade. When you come home, you don't want that feeling that you lost and feel like you let people down, like your family. It's really hard to look at my kid and my wife after that. It was really hard. [Against Nelson] I had to think about that and I didn't want to feel that feeling again of coming home a loser again.
What's at stake for you in this fight?
I think this fight is more of a test for him than me. I've already been in a lot of fights and been on this stage before. I know how to handle myself now and a lot better than before. I think it will be more of a test for him than it is for me and my job is to make sure that he fails that test.
How much will your advantage in experience play a role in this fight?
We will see in the fight and how he handles it. Some people handle it very well and some people don't. We'll see how he does. But no matter how he does, we know what we're going to do in the fight.
The Charlo brothers are big on using the hashtag #LionsOnly on social media. What does that mean to you?
That's cool, I respect them. You always have to respect kids who are undefeated and I respect them for being good fighters. But if this ends in under 10 rounds I'm going to be the lion killer on Saturday night. It doesn't matter #LionsOnly or "Nightmare" or whatever your nickname is, when it comes to a fight it's what you do in the ring. So we'll see on Saturday night if he is a lion.
Trainer Joe Goossen's influence in your corner appears to have been a big one of late. But how influential has he been from a fashion standpoint? This guy has got some serious style, right?
Yeah, he looks good. He makes sure he looks good all the time. [He laughs.] But no, not really. It's good to look good, but sometimes it does get annoying. But Joe is Joe and that's how he gets down.
What would a victory do for your standing within the division?
Right now I'm No. 2 in the WBC and No. 2 in WBO, so hopefully it gets me to the No. 1 spot and I get to get the title that Andrade took from me. Hopefully in the WBC I get to fight Canelo [Alvarez] or somebody. Hopefully another big name will come up after this fight against Charlo.