Martirosyan has new gym, new fight in the works
GLENDALE — The following are odds and ends from the local sports scene.
MARTIROSYAN NEW OWNER OF LOCAL GYM
Undefeated junior middleweight boxer Vanes “Nightmare” Martirosyan is days away from leaving for the Philippines to join Manny Pacquiao‘s training camp as a sparring partner for the current champ in preparation for his October fight with Antonio Margarito. Paquiao and the 28-0 Martirosyan both train at Freddie Roach‘s Wild Card gym.
Though no particular date, location or announcement has been made, Martirosyan also told the News-Press that he will likely be fighting in December and an official announcement of the bout is forthcoming.
One of Martirosyan’s potential opponents is Miguel Cotto. On Monday, Top Rank Promoter Bob Arum told AOL Fanhouse that Cotto was weighing his options.
“Cotto is going to decide whether he’ll fight [Kermit] Cintron or Martirosyan or not fight until next year. They told me today that Cotto is weighing his options, and that we’ll know [Tuesday]” Arum told Fanhouse.
“Martirosyan called us. His trainer, Freddie Roach, called us when he realized that we wouldn’t do Cotto-[Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.] this year, and he said to consider Vanes for Cotto’s potential opponent. So we put Vanes into the hat and the Cintron people wanted to fight Cotto. And we gave the choice to Cotto, and he has to determine which of those two guys that he wants to fight or neither. I’ll leave that up to Miguel.”
Before venturing east to the Philippines, Martirosyan, a Glendale resident, made sure to attend to a piece of business very near to his heart, purchasing Glendale’s own Main Event Gym.
“It was one of my dreams to have a gym like this, especially in Glendale,” said Martirosyan of the facility where numerous local mixed martial arts fighters and boxers train. “This is where I started boxing and I always wanted to give something back to Glendale.”
Martirosyan said the gym will offer classes and training in wide variety of fighting disciplines, including mixed martial arts, karate, ju-jitsu, wrestling and kickboxing.
“I just want everyone to come in and do what they want and feel comfortable,” said Martirosyan, who will be involved in youth instruction at the gym. “I’m trying to create future champions.”
AREA TEAMS EARN CIF RANKINGS
Seven local teams have earned CIF rankings, highlighted by the Crescenta Valley High boys’ team.
The Falcons were once again ranked No. 1 in the latest Division V poll, after an 8-6 overtime road victory on Thursday against Rio Mesa, ranked No. 1 in Division VI, on Thursday. Glendale is ranked fifth in the division.
St. Francis’ football team, which is 2-0, is fourth in the Western Division.
Four cross-country squads are also ranked. Flintridge Prep’s boys’ team is seventh in Division V. Crescenta Valley’s girls’ team is 10th in Division I, while the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy and Flintridge Prep squads are ranked seventh and ninth in Division IV and V, respectively.
The rankings were unveiled Monday.
REID NAMES KOLB STARTING QUARTERBACK
Philadelphia Eagles Coach Andy Reid, a former Glendale Community College football player, said Monday that Kevin Kolb will be the starting quarterback when the Eagles (1-1) face the host Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
Kolb started at quarterback opening week against the Green Bay Packers, but suffered a concussion. Kolb sat out the remainder of the game and Sunday’s 35-32 victory against the Detroit Lions.
Michael Vick handled the signal-calling responsibilities against Detroit. The three-time Pro Bowl selection completed 16 of 24 passes for 284 yards and pair of touchdowns.
Kolb, who has been cleared to practice, will start against Jacksonville barring a setback.
“I think it’s a beautiful situation,” Reid said during a news conference Monday. “I look at it a lot differently than other people look at it. I’ve got two quarterbacks that can play at a very important position. I’m a happy guy about it. There are a lot of teams that don’t have good quarterbacks, ones that they feel like they can win with, and I feel like we can with both of those guys.”
QUARTERBACK CLUB TO HOLD SECOND MEETING
The Glendale YMCA Quarterback Club will hold its second meeting at 11:30 a.m. today at The Elk’s Lodge, 120 E. Colorado St., Glendale.
The club, which is in its 68th year, is geared to support the Crescenta Valley, Hoover, Glendale and St. Francis high football teams and the Glendale Community College football program.
Broadcast personalities Matt Stevens, a former UCLA quarterback, and JJ Jackson, a former USC wide receiver, will be the guest speakers.
PEARSON NAMED ALTERNATE FOR EVENT
Glendale resident Linda Pearson, a Glendale resident and Oakmont Country Club member, is one of two alternates for the United States Golf Assn.’s Senior Women’s Amateur.
Pearson carded a 14-over-par 86 on Sept. 14 during a qualifying round at Rancho Santa Fe Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe.
The championship will be held Oct. 9-14 at Fiddlesticks Country Club in Fort Myers, Fla.
