Boxing: King Artem Harutyunyan defends his WBC title in Las Vegas against Frank Martin | sports

Artem Harutyunyan (32 years old) made a decision three years ago. In order to get into big fights as a boxing professional, the bronze Olympic winner was changed from the Universum’s stable weight categories: from lightweight (63.5 kg) to lightweight (61.2 kg). The ordeal was worth it…

On Saturday, his dream comes true: “King Artem” fights in the United States for the first time. On the big stage! Showtime broadcasts in the USA, while Universum broadcasts on YouTube in Germany.

In the “Chelsea Ballroom” (3200 seats) at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas, Hamburger defends his WBC international title against American hitman Frank “The Ghost” Martin (28). As the main fighter on the PBC evening! “This is the greatest opportunity of my life,” she says.

Both boxers are undefeated. Harutyunyan is eighth in the WBC rankings, Southpaw Martin from promoter Errol Spence Jr. (33) He is No. 6. “If he wins, Artem will move into the top three and he can dream of a World Cup,” explains Universum-boss Ismail Ozen Otto (42). “This is his most important fight. If he wants to play at the top, he has to prove himself now.”

“The battle is a milestone for me,” says Harutyunyan. “He can open all the doors. Especially in America. It is very important for me to gain a foothold there now. Show me, show me, regardless of the outcome of the fight.

Because officially, the title holder is the guest boxer. The father of the family (one daughter) Harutyunyan knows exactly what that means: “They take me until I lose. A plus for me” but then he clarifies: “I’m going out there to win.”

Also speaking against it: the coach and his father-in-law Artur Grigoryan (55) had to stay at home. Reason: visa delay. But Harutyuyan remains positive: “I think it’s really good when things don’t go smoothly. My experience over time is that when everything goes smoothly, something ends up being unpredictable. And if something goes wrong during preparation, it’s much better in the end.” .

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Even the nine-hour time difference doesn’t scare him. Although Harutyunyan entered the gambler’s paradise only with his team on Monday: “It was better for me to finish my records in Hamburg as usual. Then I sleep a little in Las Vegas. It doesn’t matter. I’ve done it a lot in my career. Kazakhstan, one day before I weigh in. You can do that.”

Just like brutal hunger. In order to manage the weight, Harutyunyan will only eat once a day until Friday’s weigh-in. Because: “I wanted to box in the United States three years ago. Now the opportunity is there, so I have to take it.”