Boxing in Armenia

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Template:SHORTDESC: 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 the 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 boxers have been placed in the top 3 of world and European competitions for various weight categories. Vladimir Yengibarian was among the first individuals to open professional boxing schools in Armenia. The sport is regulated by the Armenian Boxing Federation.

History

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Ancient history

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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

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The modern history of boxing in Armenia starts in the early twentieth century.

File:Vladimir Yengibaryan 2010 post stamp.jpg
2010 Armenian post stamp showing Vladimir Yengibaryan

Soviet era

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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 its peak during the period from 1970s to early 1990s. Notable figures of the era include Mekhak Ghazaryan and Israyel Hakobkokhyan, with the latter 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 Boxing Children and Youth Sport School in Yerevan.[6] This was the first school of its kind in the USSR.

Independent era

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Armenia became an independent state in 1991. The Armenian Boxing Federation, the 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]

Boxers in Armenia
Year Number
2005[13]
3,259
2010[14]
3,021
2021[15]
3,036

On September 3, 2011, the first ever professional boxing event in Armenia took place in the Karen Demirchyan Sports Complex.[16] 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.[17] Armenia has hosted the 2012 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships[18] and the Men's 2022 European Amateur Boxing Championships.

Armenia had over 3,000 people practicing box in the 21st century.[13][15] In 2021 Armenia had 3,036 boxers (including 62 females) and 151 coaches and trainers.[15]

Records

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Olympics

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See also: Boxing at the Summer 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.[19][20]

The only Olympic medal for Armenia was won by Hrachik Javakhyan at the 2008 Beijing Games.[21]

Professional World Championships

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File:Arthur-Abraham-mit-WM-Gürtel.jpg
File:VicDarchinyan.jpg
Arthur Abraham (left) and Vic Darchinyan (right).
See also: List of current world boxing champions

Men

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

Boxer Organization Weight Years
Vic Darchinyan[22] IBF Flyweight 2004-2007
IBF Super Flyweight 2008-2009
WBC Super Flyweight 2008-2010
WBA Super Flyweight 2008-2010
Arthur Abraham[23] IBF Middleweight 2005-2009
WBO Super Middleweight 2012-

Women

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German Armenian boxer Susianna Kentikian has won numerous world champion titles, which are listed below.[24]

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

Amateur World Championships

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See also: World Amateur Boxing Championships
Year Athlete Weight Position Ref
Finland 1993 Tampere Nshan Munchyan Light Flyweight (–48 kilograms) File:Gold medal icon.svg Gold
[10]
Finland 1993 Tampere Arszak Avartekyan Heavyweight (–91 kilograms) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
[10]
Germany 1995 Berlin Artur Mikelyan Bantamweight (–54 kilograms) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
[25]
Hungary 1997 Budapest Aram Ramazyan Bantamweight (–54 kilograms) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
[26]
China 2005 Mianyang Artak Malumyan Light Heavyweight (–81 kilograms) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
[27]
Italy 2009 Milan Andranik Hakobyan Middleweight (–75 kilograms) File:Silver medal icon.svg Silver
[28]
Germany 2017 Hamburg Hovhannes Bachkov Light welterweight File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
Russia 2019 Yekaterinburg Hovhannes Bachkov Light welterweight File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
Serbia 2021 Belgrade Hovhannes Bachkov Light welterweight File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
Serbia 2021 Belgrade Davit Chaloyan Super heavyweight File:Silver medal icon.svg Silver

European Championships

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File:John Joe Joyce 031.JPG
Eduard Hambardzumyan (left) won a gold medal at the 2008 European Championship
See also: European Amateur Boxing Championships
Year Athlete Weight Position Ref
Turkey 1993 Bursa Mechak Kasaryan Lightweight (–60 kg) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
[29]
Turkey 1993 Bursa Armen Gevorkyan Light Welterweight (–63.5 kg) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
[29]
Belarus 1998 Minsk Vachtang Darchinyan Flyweight (–51 kilograms) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
[30]
Belarus 1998 Minsk Artyom Simonyan Featherweight (–57 kilograms) File:Silver medal icon.svg Silver
[30]
Belarus 1998 Minsk Artur Gevorkyan Lightweight (–60 kilograms) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
[30]
Finland 2000 Tampere Aram Ramazyan Bantamweight (–54 kilograms) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
[31]
Finland 2000 Tampere Bagrat Oghanian Super Heavyweight (+91 kilograms) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
[31]
Russia 2002 Perm Marat Tovmasian Heavyweight (–91 kilograms) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
[31]
Bulgaria 2006 Plovdiv Hovhannes Danielyan Light Flyweight (–48 kilograms) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
[32]
Bulgaria 2006 Plovdiv Hrachik Javakhyan Lightweight (–60 kilograms) File:Silver medal icon.svg Silver
[32]
United Kingdom 2008 Liverpool Hovhannes Danielyan Light Flyweight (–48 kilograms) File:Gold medal icon.svg Gold
[11]
United Kingdom 2008 Liverpool Eduard Hambardzumyan Light Welterweight (–64 kilograms) File:Gold medal icon.svg Gold
[11]
United Kingdom 2008 Liverpool Tsolak Ananikyan Heavyweight (–91 kilograms) File:Silver medal icon.svg Silver
[11]
Russia 2010 Moscow Hovhannes Danielyan Light Flyweight (–48 kilograms) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
[12]
Russia 2010 Moscow Hrachik Javakhyan Light Welterweight (–64 kilograms) File:Gold medal icon.svg Gold
[12]
Russia 2010 Moscow Artur Khachatryan Light Heavyweight (–81 kilograms) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
[12]
Turkey 2011 Ankara Vladimir Saruhanyan Lightweight (–60 kg) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
[33]
Belarus 2013 Minsk Aram Avagyan Bantamweight (–56 kg) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
Bulgaria 2015 Samokov Aram Avagyan Bantamweight (–56 kg) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
Ukraine 2017 Kharkiv Hovhannes Bachkov light welterweight (–64 kg) File:Gold medal icon.svg Gold
Belarus 2019 Minsk Arthur Hovhannisyan light flyweight (–49 kg) File:Gold medal icon.svg Gold
Belarus 2019 Minsk Karen Tonakanyan lightweight (–60 kg) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
Belarus 2019 Minsk Hovhannes Bachkov light welterweight (–64 kg) File:Gold medal icon.svg Gold
Belarus 2019 Minsk Gor Nersesyan light heavyweight (–81 kg) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
Armenia 2022 Yerevan Artur Bazeyan featherweight (–57 kg) File:Silver medal icon.svg Silver
Armenia 2022 Yerevan Hovhannes Bachkov featherweight (–63.5 kg) File:Gold medal icon.svg Gold
Armenia 2022 Yerevan Rafayel Hovhannisyan cruiserweight (–86 kg) File:Silver medal icon.svg Silver
Armenia 2022 Yerevan Narek Manasyan heavyweight (–92 kg) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze

World Cup

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Year Athlete Weight Position Ref
Thailand 1994 Bangkok Nshan Munchyan Light Flyweight (–48 kg) File:Gold medal icon.svg Gold
[8]
China 1998 Beijing Vakhtang Darchinyan Flyweight (–51 kg) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
[34]
China 1998 Beijing Aram Ramazyan Bantamweight (–54 kg) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
[34]
China 1998 Beijing Artyom Simonyan Featherweight (–57 kg) File:Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze
[34]
Russia 2008 Moscow Andranik Hakobyan Middleweight (–75 kg) File:Gold medal icon.svg Gold
[9]

References

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