First Match a Breeze for Glendale’s Martirosyan

Vanes Martirosyan was hungry. So hungry he told reporters he couldn’t wait to eat after easily winning his opening match Sunday in the 152-pound division of the Olympic boxing competition at Peristeri Olympic Boxing Hall.

So hungry for competition and so little taxed by his opposition that he said he wished he could have gone an additional four rounds after dominating Benamar Meskine of Algeria, 45-20.

“I just tried to finish like a champion,” said Martirosyan, who lives in Glendale. “It’s all just come together for me like a puzzle.”

The next piece of that puzzle could have some rough edges. Thursday, he will face Lorenzo Aragon of Cuba, the gold-medal winner last year in the Pan Am Games.

-- Steve Springer