Vanes Martirosyan, the 2004 US Olympian and former world title challenger, died Sunday at the age of 39 following a two-year battle with skin cancer.
The news was confirmed by BoxingScene on Sunday with WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman and Martirosyan publicist Bernie Bahrmasel.
Martirosyan, who fought from 2005 to 2018, compiled a pro record of 36-5 (21 KOs), challenging three times for world titles, including in his last bout, when he lost to unified middleweight champion Gennadiy Golovkin in two rounds.
Born in Abovyan, Armenia, and based in Glendale, California, Martirosyan was an outstanding amateur, defeating Andre Berto in the Olympic qualifiers to earn his spot at the Athens Games in 2004. There in Greece, Martirosyan made it to the second round of the welterweight competition, losing a decision to Cuba’s Lorenzo Aragon.
Martirosyan went undefeated in his first 34 professional bouts, running his record to 33-0-1, with his only blemish being a draw against Erislandy Lara, before he lost a split decision in a vacant WBO junior middleweight title fight against Demetrius Andrade in 2013. Martirosyan’s three losses would all come against world champions, including Jermell Charlo, to whom Martirosyan lost a close decision in 2015, and another decision loss to Lara in a 2016 rematch. During his career, Martirosyan defeated two former world champions, including Kassim Ouma and Ishe Smith.
Sulaiman, whose organization’s silver title Martirosyan won in 2012, mourned Martirosyan’s untimely passing, describing him as a “dear friend.”
“He was a special person who even donated to Israel Vazquez’s family, even when he was facing his own difficulties,” said Sulaiman. “May he rest in peace.”
Martirosyan’s life was also commemorated on the Wild Card Boxing Club’s Instagram page.
“We are deeply and profoundly saddened by the passing of Vanes Martirosyan – a former US Olympian, WBC Silver Light Middleweight Champion, a father, a husband, a son, and friend to us all. Vanes will always be remembered here and missed,” wrote the account of the Los Angeles gym where Martirosyan trained for much of his career.
“We know you fought hard, Vanes, and fought to live for your family. We send our thoughts, prayers, love, support, and sincerest condolences to the Martirosyan family and all those who feel this loss. Gone far, far too soon.”
Martirosyan spoke with BoxingScene’s Lance Pugmire last year, discussing his battle with squamous cell carcinoma cancer and thanking supporters for their words of encouragement.
“Those messages keep me going,” Martirosyan said in the story, which was published in October 2024. “It’s good to know people care. I wish everyone out there the best, especially any of those going through an illness.”
Ryan Songalia is a reporter and editor for BoxingScene.com and has written for ESPN, the New York Daily News, Rappler, The Guardian, Vice and The Ring magazine. He holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at ryansongalia@gmail.com or on Twitter at @ryansongalia.
