VANES MARTIROSYAN has insisted his “hunger” and mental strength will be the key to becoming the first man to beat Gennady Golovkin.
Despite being a late replacement for Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, Martirosyan is certainly not shy from expressing why he believes he can be the first person to defeat ‘GGG’ in a professional ring.
“The hunger, you know, and being out of the ring for so long. I love boxing with all my heart” Martirosyan said.
“I’ve just been hoping and waiting for this opportunity and I can honestly say this will be the best version of me.”
Martirosyan is no stranger to world title fights. The 31-year-old Armenian twice challenged at light-middleweight as he failed in attempts against Demetrius Andrade and more recently Erislandy Lara.
But Martirosyan, who holds wins in the amateurs over Andre Berto, Timothy Bradley and Austin Trout, explained his “Nightmare” nickname.
“A lot of people see me as my nickname ‘Nightmare’ and they don’t really know how I got that name,” he said.
“I didn’t pick that name – that name was given to me when I fought Timothy Bradley. I’m the last guy he lost to before he turned professional. I beat Austin Trout three times, I beat Andre Berto and the fans gave that name to me.
“They were like ‘I don’t know who this kid is but he’s like a nightmare.’ At one of my fights someone yelled ‘the Armenian Nightmare’ through the crowd and that’s how that name stuck with me.
“This fight is going to be a nightmare,” Martirosyan concluded.
Martirosyan contained to cite advantages he has going into the fight, and the Armenian insisted his mental strength is superior to any prior Golovkin opponent.
“Most of ‘GGG’s’ opponents – when they got into the ring they already lost” Martirosyan said.
“They already thought about the power before they got in the ring and they fought defensive. Gennady is a monster and he hits really hard. So they got in the ring scared and I don’t get in the ring scared.
“I am going to do my thing, just go in there and have fun to see where I belong in this sport and to see what this man is about. I never turn down fights.
“If you look at my last five fights – Andrade, Ishe Smith, Charlo, Lara and Alberto Lorenzo – those are just my last five fights. I don’t back down from anyone. I take all fights and this is another one and you are going to see the best of me.”
Golovkin will put up his WBA (Super) and WBC middleweight titles, however the IBF strap will not be at stake as Martirosyan is not ranked within the governing body.
