by David P. Greisman
As news broke today of the lawsuit filed by promoter Top Rank against boxing adviser Al Haymon and significant investors in his “Premier Boxing Champions” venture, people took to Twitter to comment — including boxers signed with Haymon.
Vanes Martirosyan, who once was promoted by Top Rank and is now with Haymon, took aim and accused the company’s head, Bob Arum, of influencing a judge back when the fighter and promoter were still working together.
“Its funny I left TOP RANK because there all Liers and The most corrupt people I've ever seen in Boxing and there the ones Talking,” Martirosyan tweeted at one point.
He was soon asked about a rare time when Top Rank promoted a bout involving a fighter advised by Haymon — when Martirosyan faced Erislandy Lara in November 2012.
“They where forced to do that fight And Bob Arum Told me don’t worry I spoke to one of the judges you got this fight,” Martirosyan tweeted.
Both tweets have since been deleted.
Martirosyan and Lara was on a Top Rank card as the company had won a purse bid for what was a title eliminator. The boxers fought to a technical draw after a clash of heads ended their bout in the ninth round. It was a close fight, as reflected on the scorecards: One judge had it 86-85 for Martirosyan, one had it 87-84 for Lara, and the third had it even at 86-86.
A year later, in late 2013, Martirosyan lost a close split decision to Demetrius Andrade in a fight for a vacant world title. Top Rank released him in 2014, and since then he’s outpointed Mario Lozano and Willie Nelson, then lost to Jermell Charlo this past March. Martirosyan, 29, is 35-2-1 with 21 KOs.
Given Martirosyan’s implication that Arum had spoken to a judge prior to the Lara fight, BoxingScene.com reached out to Top Rank for comment and heard back from Carl Moretti, the company’s vice president of boxing operations.
“The subject matter, and Vanes, are not worth commenting on,” Moretti said.