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Earlier on the card, former Olympic junior middleweight Vanes Martirosyan (19-0, 13 KOs), made quick work of Jorge Munoz (20-2, 13 KOs) by stopping him in the 3rd round. Martirosyan dropped Munoz in round 1 and round 3 before a barrage of punishing shots forced a stoppage at 2:20 of round 3.

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February 7 , 2008
By Ramon Aranda

BoxingScene.com

No such problems in the career of 21-year old Vanes "Nightmare" Martirosyan, as things are just getting started for the undefeated junior middleweight prospect and 2004 US Olympian. While the main event left the crowd booing throughout, Martirosyan gave 'em plenty of reason to cheer with a three-round beatdown of Michi Munoz in the televised co-feature.

The brash Armenian, now residing in Glendale, California, was on the attack early and often throughout, scoring three knockdowns in the brief yet punishing affair. A counter left hand put Munoz on the deck early in the opening round, drawing chants of "Va-Nes" from the crowd, which came alive anytime Martirosyan had his Mexican foe in any trouble.

Martirosyan remained on the attack in round two, landing several 1-2's upstairs while keeping Munoz within punching range throughout. Munoz managed to stay on his feet throughout the round, but was forced to take a knee midway through the third after taking one right hand too many. He beat referee Kenny Bayliss' mandatory eight count, but would've been better served to remain on the canvas. Martirosyan teed off on the Mexican before forcing him to a knee for the round's second knockdown, this time with Bayliss immediately waving off the bout.

The official time was 2:20 of round three.

Martirosyan improves to 19-0 (13KO), already registering his second win of 2008 and scheduled to return in late March. Munoz won't fight for a while, suffering a broken nose in addition to the first stoppage loss of his career, both of which earns him a trip to the medical suspension list. He falls to 20-2 (13KO) with the loss, snapping a three-fight win streak.

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Albert Hammond and Tony! Toni! Tone! were wrong, it does indeed rain in Southern California. And last Friday, on a wet, windy, cold evening underneath a much-too-small tent that was erected a night before at the Alameda Swap Meet in Los Angeles, a large throng of Armenian-Americans braved the elements to show their support of jr. middleweight prospect Vanes Martirosyan, who improved to 18-0 with a six round decision over journeyman Clarence Taylor.

Martirosyan wasn't even part of the Telefutura broadcast last week, but to these rabid partisans, he was their main event. And as their man did his thing, they vociferously showed their support throughout. As Terrell Owens would say - they love themselves some Vanes.

There are some notable fighters of Armenian descent today, from Arthur Abraham to Vic Darchinyan and many others who perform regularly in California. But it's evident that Martirosyan, who represented the United States in the 2004 Olympic Games, has an opportunity to become the first one to develop as a ticket seller and have some crossover appeal in the States.

But ironically, that same adulation he is showered with locally is the exact reason why he made the switch from training with Freddie Roach in Hollywood to Ronnie Shields in Houston, Texas.

"Freddie's a great coach, everybody knows that; I can't complain about Freddie and I'm not because I know he's a good coach. It was more about being focused and I needed a change because I wasn't feeling that my boxing skills were improving, and it had nothing to do with Freddie," Martirosyan would explain a few days after his latest fight. "I think it was more of me getting to it and learning. I told my uncle, 'I need to be more focused and we talked to Shelly (Finkel), and Shelly recommended Ronnie Shields and then we also had a talk with Freddie...

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January 11, 2008
By Steve Kim/Maxboxing.com