Boxer Vanes Martirosyan has died

Renowned Armenian-American boxer Vanes Noriki Martirosyan has died at the age of 40. The cause of death was squamous cell cancer, which the athlete had been battling for just a year.

Martirosyan was one of the most influential figures in Armenian and American boxing. He was an 8-time Armenian champion, a US Golden Gloves champion, and a 2004 Olympic Games participant. In his professional career, he held the NABF world title, the NABO vacant title, and the WBA International, WBC Silver, and WBO Inter-Continental light middleweight belts.

Martirosyan's last fight was in 2018, against the legendary Gennady Golovkin.

"I just pray to God to heal me... I pray for a miracle. The doctors say this is such a rare disease that it only affects 1 percent of people. You know, my brother died of a heart attack at the age of 40. My mom and dad are already booked in by his side. I told them I don't want to be next."