By Manouk Akopyan

Ferdinand Kerobyan had to throw his entire game plan out of the window 13 seconds into his last fight against Blair Cobbs in March. 

In a battle between unbeaten prospects, the 21-year-old Kerobyan was the victim of an accidental headbutt that led to a nasty gash over his right eye shortly after the sound of the opening bell.

“Lucky Boy” was all of a sudden luckless.

Kerobyan continued and finished the eight-round clash with Cobbs, but the crimson mask covering his face proved to be problematic throughout the encounter, which Cobbs edged in a close decision.

The touted Golden Boy-promoted Kerobyan (11-1, 6 KOs) suffered his first defeat and lost the chance at winning the NABF junior welterweight title. Instead, he was gifted 16 stitches over his right eye and forced to recuperate.

 Kerobyan wants to return to pole position presenting promise and potential when he returns to the ring Friday against the battle-tested Daniel Evangelista Jr. (20-10-2, 16 KOs) as the special main event attraction benefiting the Oscar De La Hoya Foundation in Pasadena, Calif.

Evangelista Jr., 29, is a fight-week replacement for former Mexican Olympian Oscar Molina, who suffered a hand injury and had to pull out of his fight. Like Kerobyan, Evangelista Jr. started his career 11-0, but he’s since been on a whirlwind 9-10-2 roller coaster. 

Kerobyan, an Armenian welterweight from North Hollywood, Calif. who is managed by Ronda Rousey’s One Fight Management, wants to prove that his adversity-laden loss was a one-time exception, and not the new norm for what he anticipates to be a budding career.

“I’m trying to have a statement win against Evangelista Jr. and show everyone my true talents and capabilities,” Kerobyan told BoxingScene.com. “I’m going to make Daniel adjust to my fighting style and control the pace of the fight. I have the skill set and tools to make opponents uncomfortable. I’m prepared to be at my best on Friday.”

Kerobyan said his loss to Cobbs has helped him build better character. In the last round of that fight, the relentless Kerobyan gave a great account of his fighting spirit and rocked Cobbs as blood flowed from his face like a fountain. He eventually ran out of time, losing by one round each on two of the scorecards. 

“That was a big challenge in my young career,” he said. “I tried to do my best. I gave him trouble at the end. I would love to have a rematch with him to show people what I really have.”

Kerobyan strongly feels that the cut worked to the detriment of his performance. He’s since taken a new approach to his training to better withstand any unexpected turn of events.

“It was very hard letting the eye heal and bouncing back from it, but I’ve since been able to turn in one of my best training camps as a professional,” said Kerobyan. “I’m a young fighter, so I want to fight. It’s hard when you have limitations out of your control. You just have to bounce back and show people what you’re made of. We worked on improvements both mentally and physically this camp. I couldn’t be happier with the results, and I can’t wait to show it.”

Kerobyan has showed it before. He sported a 57-5 amateur record, fought in the Junior Olympics and also won U.S. national junior titles before turning pro. His track record caught the attention of Rousey and Golden Boy, and he’s been a mainstay on the Southern California boxing circuit ever since turning pro in December 2016. 

A large Armenian contingency from Los Angeles always turns out in big numbers and supports the crowd-pleasing Kerobyan. He’s fought several times as a headliner on club shows and has been featured on ESPN and EstrellaTV as well.

“He really showed his determination and desire in his last fight and the heart of a true champion,” said Ken Arutyunyan, who’s coached Kerobyan since the fighter was seven-years-old. “He never even thought about using the cut as an excuse to quit.”

Arutyunyan is now a strength and conditioning coach who corners Kerobyan as a chief second. Nshan Munchyan is Kerobyan’s lead trainer at the Arutyunyan-founded gym International Sport Union in North Hollywood.

Arutyunyan said he’s pleased with his pugilist taking a negative and turning it into a positive, while also doubling down on his commitment to conditioning.

“He has the ability to do big things in the future,” said Arutyunyan. “Now it’s all about overcoming obstacles.”

“My coaches have seen the hunger in my eyes again, and the passion that I’ve been training with,” added Kerobyan. 

Kerobyan has even reached out to the likes of Rousey for guidance as he looks to get past his first loss as a professional fighter.

“Ronda has been a big mentor throughout my career, showing me how to be a pro and how to carry myself,” he said. “She’s helped me a lot with her advice on how to approach situations. I can’t wait to get back in the ring and prove to everybody that I can be a champion and show everyone what I’m made of.

“It’s a big honor to be the main event for this charitable night benefiting Oscar De La Hoya’s foundation. It’s a great way to build a bigger fan base and following.”

Kerobyan’s eight-round bout against Evangelista Jr. will take place at Pasadena City Hall. The fight will stream on RingTV.com and on Facebook Watch via the Golden Boy Fight Night page at 10 p.m. ET. Standing-room only admission is free to the public, and tickets start at $25. There will also be a live concert and a beer garden. All proceeds from the night will help the Oscar De La Hoya Foundation benefit the youth and community of Pasadena.

Manouk Akopyan has been a member of the Boxing Writers Assn. of America since 2011 and has written for the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, the Guardian and Philadelphia Inquirer. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan or via email at manouk.akopyan@gmail.com.