Martirosyan, Hovhannisyan, Tolmajyan set for squared circle returns
The following are odds and ends from the local sports scene.
TRIO OF GLENDALE
BOXERS RETURN TO RING
Undefeated former Olympian Vanes “Nightmare” Martirosyan is scheduled to make his awaited return to the boxing ring, while up-and-coming Glendale Fighting Club boxers Art “Lionheart” Hovhanissyan and Gabriel “The Ghost” Tolmajyan are set for separate bouts on ESPN2.
Though an opponent has yet to be announced, Glendale’s Martirosyan, as verified by comments from his own camp and Boxrec.com, is slated to fight on June 15 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
The bout is set for the undercard of HBO’s “Boxing After Dark,” which will be headlined by Mikey Garcia taking on Juan Manuel Lopez.
Martinez (32-0-1, 20 knockouts) is returning to the ring for the first time since a controversial and much-maligned fight against Erislandy Lara in November on HBO. The bout was judged a technical draw after a Lara head butt opened a huge gash over Martirosyan’s eye. Largely criticized for its lack of action, the bout saw Martirosyan start out aggressively, but later frustrated by the holding and lack of output displayed by Lara.
A day earlier on June 14, the hard-charging Hovhannisyan (15-1-2, eight KOs) will take on Arash Usmanee (20-1-0, 10 KOs) in a bout featuring a pair of fighters coming off their first career losses. The bout will be the co-feature of ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights,” as Hovhannisyan and his camp will travel to New Jersey for a bout at the South Mountain Arena.
Tolmajyan, according to his Lights Out Promotions management, is scheduled to face Mark “Too Sharp” Davis on July 5 in Connecticut. George Bastmajyan of Lights Out said the bout is also scheduled to be a co-feature for “Friday Night Fights.” Davis (16-0, five KOs) is undefeated, but hasn’t fought since November of 2011.
SILVERBACK HEADED
FOR BAMMA CAGE
It didn’t take long for Sevak “The Silverback” Magakian to get back on the winning track, as he fought at a Gladiator Challenge event on March 25 and won in less than a minute.
Neither Magakian (13-4-1) nor his corner could even recall his opponent’s name, merely a speed bump on the road back to mixed-martial-arts notoriety for the Glendale fighter who trains at Team Hayastan in Hollywood and the Main Event Sports Club in Glendale.
Magakian, a former “The Ultimate Fighter” contestant and one-time Bellator MMA veteran, will take on Eric Brown (5-8) on BAMMA USA’s Badbeat 9 card on May 31 at the Commerce Casino in the hopes of continuing those winning ways.
Magakian is looking for his second straight win, as the judo practioner had a five-fight winning streak snapped with a 0-1-1 skid.
For more information, including tickets, visit www.bammausa.com.
VAQUEROS EARN CONFERENCE HONORS
Four members of the Glendale Community College softball team picked up All-Western State Conference Blue Division postseason honors. Jena Kaser and Katie Bakhshian were named to the second team. Vanessa Mendoza and Kayla Evans received honorable mention accolades.
Kaser, a sophomore catcher, batted .407 (37 for 91) with a team-high eight home runs and 37 runs batted in. She collected 11 doubles, four triples and scored 24 runs.
Bakhshian, a freshman pitcher, went 9-11 in 30 appearances with a 3.97 earned-run average. She struck out 121 in 143 innings and posted a 3.97 earned-run average.
Mendoza, a sophomore shortstop, batted .339 (38 for 112) with four home runs and nine doubles. Evans, a sophomore first baseman, hit .326 (29 for 89) with 14 runs.
Glendale finished 17-21, 7-11 in the division.