December 26, 2004
Not many fighters challenge for an IBF title in their 16th professional appearance. But not many have an amateur background as extensive as Art Simonyan’s.
Before coming to this country from his native Armenia, Simonyan (14-0-1, 7 KOs) had as many as 250 amateur bouts, by the count of Harry Kazandjian, the manager/trainer of the fighter who opposes Israel Vasquez of Mexico for Vasquez’s IBF junior featherweight championship Tuesday evening at the Sycuan Resort and Casino.
It was Kazandjian, also an Armenian, who brought Simonyan to the United States. Kazandjian said he had received a call from an acquaintance in Armenia before the 2000 Olympics alerting him to Simonyan’s potential. When Armenia did not have the funds to send the boxer to the games, Kazandjian summoned him.
“He has all the credentials you can imagine,” contended Kazandjian, who once handled light welterweight contender Hector Lopez. “He can punch and he can box and he has one thing Lopez didn’t have – he has discipline. He doesn’t smoke or drink, and he is always in the gym.”
As if boxing for an IBF title isn’t incentive enough, Simonyan has one in Armenia, according to Kazandjian: a 4-year-old daughter he has never seen. If Simonyan gets past Vasquez, Kazandjian said his reward is going to be a trip to Armenia to see his daughter.
Simonyan’s promoter, Art Pelullo of Philadelphia, is predicting that Simonyan is going to wrest the title from Vasquez (36-3, 26 KOs), who claimed it when he stopped Jose Luis Valbuena in the 12th round of a March match at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. Vasquez thus became the 100th Mexican to win a world championship.
“But Simonyan can fight,” argued Pelullo. “I’m telling you he is going to win the fight. He’s a tough kid, and he takes a good whack.”
Vasquez is boxing for the first time since he came under the promotional aegis of Sycuan Ringside Promotions. The Tuesday bout is being offered in the Sycuan Showcase Theater, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and the first bout at 6 p.m. The program is not being televised.
Two bouts involving women are included on the undercard. Tickets are $100, $200, and $250.
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