By Ryan Burton
Junior middleweight up and comer Vanes "Nightmare" Martirosyan (27-0) speaks to BoxingScene.com about his scrap with Kassim Ouma and a potential fight with Carlos Quintana on the Miguel Cotto vs. Yuri Foreman undercard in June. The Nightmare says that even though he is 23 years old that he is ready for top five opponents and that he doesn't need anymore tune ups in this exclusive interview.
BoxingScene.com: What is new with you?
Vanes Martirosyan: Right now we are talking to Top Rank about my new contract. I am probably am going to resign with them. Just doing that and waiting on seeing if (Carlos) Quintana wants to fight. I really want the fight but I guess they don't want the fight. It looks like I will be fighting again in April or June. If its in June, Bob Arum says that he wants me to fight on the Cotto-Foreman card since that's my weight class. I have been in the gym and my weight is really good. I am ready to fight.
BoxingScene.com: I read last week on BoxingScene.com that Quintana says that the fight would help elevate your career but that it doesn't do anything for him. What are your thoughts on that?
Vanes Martirosyan: Well that is not true because I don't think he has done much lately. Yeah he has fought a few good fighters but if you are a good fighter I think that in the sport of boxing that it doesn't matter who you fight. You should just prove that you are better. I am a young up and coming guy. I am hungry and he should prove that he can beat a talented prospect that is coming up also. I think that with him he is looking for a money fight and fighting me is more of a risk for him than anything.
BoxingScene.com: Waiting till June is a little bit of a layoff for a young guy like yourself. Would you like to get a fight in before that?
Vanes Martirosyan: Well my uncle and my manager Shelly Finkel are working on that with Top Rank. I would love to do that and that is what they are working on. We should know everything in a few days.
BoxingScene.com: The Ouma fight was a step up for you and Quintana would be another step up. Is this the year you keep working your way up to fighting the top guys at 154?
Vanes Martirosyan: I know in the Ouma fight I didn't fight my best fight. I would say I was about 50% of Vanes in that fight believe it or not. It was one of those fights where I didn't know how good I was. I was a little nervous. If I fight Ouma now I promise I will knock him out in a few rounds. In that fight it showed me where I stand in boxing. It was a test. I passed the test but it was hard. If I fight him again I am sure I will stop him because I know what I am capable of doing. The Ouma fight answered a lot of questions. I was happy when they said I was going to fight Quintana. I am happy about that fight because I can finally show to people what I am capable of doing. I am not the guy who fought Kassim Ouma. I am much better than that. I want everyone to know that. Top Rank knows that. Shelly Finkel knows that. Bob Arum knows that. My uncle knows that. Freddie Roach knows that. After the fight Freddie told me not to worry about it and that we will work hard in the gym. It was a good fight for me. I learned a lot and like I said it answered a lot of questions. It was something that I needed to learn about myself and I want the big names. I want Paul Williams and all the other guys at 154. I just want that shot to show what I can do.
BoxingScene.com: What can you take from the Ouma fight to apply to a potential fight with Quintana who is crafty and has beaten Paul Williams?
Vanes Martirosyan: I know I am way better than I performed in the Ouma fight. There is so much I could have done that I didn't do. If I did what I could have I would have stopped him. What I can take into the Quintana fight is a lot of confidence. I could let my hands go more and show the world what I can really do. Show them that I am a champion and I am here to stay.
BoxingScene.com: If that fight happens on the Cotto vs. Foreman under card as you said might happen, has Top Rank said they would give you shot at the winner of the main event?
Vanes Martirosyan: I have heard rumors of that here and there but nothing official. I would love that and that is a fight Freddie [Roach] would love. I would love to fight Cotto or Yuri Foreman. I think I could beat both of them and beat both them really good. I just want to fight the top guys. I am at the point in my career that there are no more stepping stones and no more tune up fights and no more fighting as people say "bums". I don't consider nobody a bum but some people say some guys are bums. I think its time for me to face at least top 5 guys who ever they are. Whether its Angulo, Kirkland or any of them. I want to fight the best fighters in the world. This is a sport and you just can't be babied the whole time for your whole career. I don't think that is right. You are cheating yourself and you are cheating the people who are watching you. I just want to fight the best and put on good performances for people so they can see what I have and I promise I won't disappoint them.
BoxingScene.com: You against Angulo would be an interesting fight of up and comers.
Vanes Martirosyan: It would be a good fight but I don't think Gary Shaw would want to put one of his fighters against me because he knows I will beat them. Gary has seen me in the gym a few times sparring and he knows whats up. Another fighter I would love to fight is Sergiy Dzinziruk. I think Shaw just signed him. I would love to fight him too. I know he has been away a while but I would love to face him. I just want to fight the best. Hopefully I get the opportunity. I have the best promoter in Top Rank and the best manager in Shelly Finkel. I have a good uncle who is awesome as an advisor working with Shelly. I have a good team behind me and I am sure they are going to get me the fights and I will deliver.
BoxingScene.com: Do you have a message for the fans?
Vanes Martirosyan: I want to thank the fans for continuing to support me. I know the last fight was a tough one and it was disappointing. I will say it myself I was disappointed. I give myself a D for that fight. Give me the big names and I will deliver. I just want to let them know I appreciate the support. For the fans that don't know me hopefully they will support me and I promise I won't let them down. I also want to thank you Ryan for doing this interview. Thanks a lot.
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