Artur Grigorian

Artur Grigorian

Medal record
Men’s Boxing
Competitor for the  Soviet Union
World Amateur Championships
Silver	1991 Australia	Lightweight
Goodwill Games
Gold	1990 Seattle	Lightweight

Artur Grigorian (born Atuiz Grigorjan; Armenian: Արթուր Գրիգորյան; 20 October 1967 in Tashkent, Uzbek SSR, Soviet Union) is an Uzbek professional boxer of Armenian descent.

Grigorian is a former WBO Lightweight Champion. He retained his lightweight belt for a record of 17 times (surpassing Roberto Duran's record of 12) and held his belt for seven years, six months and twenty days; nearly as long as record holder Benny Leonard held his lightweight title (7 years, 8 months).

Biography

Artur Grigorian was born on 20 October 1967 in Soviet Tashkent, Uzbek SSR to Armenian parents. Artur has a brother and sister. He also has a wife and three daughters.^[1]

Grigorian currently lives in Hamburg, Germany with his family and trains former WBC Middleweight Champion Sebastian Zbik.^[2]

Amateur career

Grigorian began boxing at the age of 11. He defeated Shane Mosley in the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle City.^[3]

• 1991 2nd place as a Lightweight at the World Championships in Sydney, Australia. Results were:
  • Defeated Juan Carlos Saiz Segura (Spain) PTS (26-18)
  • Defeated Julio Gonzalez (Cuba) PTS (15-12)
  • Defeated Hong Sung-Sik (South Korea) PTS (19-7)
  • Defeated Justin Rowsell (Australia) PTS (21-15)
  • Lost to Marco Rudolph (Germany) PTS (14-19)
• 1992 Grigorian represented the Unified Team (Former Soviet Union) at the Barcelona Olympic Games as a Lightweight. His results were:
  • Defeated Óscar Palomino (Spain) 11-10
  • Lost to Hong Sung-Sik (South Korea) 3-9

Artur had a final amateur record of 361-23.

Professional career

Trained by Fritz Sdunek, Grigorian began his professional career in 1994 and won eight consecutive bouts. On 23 July 1994, Grigorian defeated Turkish boxer Senturk Ozdemir by a fifth round technical knockout and won the vacant German International Lightweight title.

On 1 April 1995, Grigorian defeated Antonio Strabello and became the WBO Inter-Continental Champion. After six non-title bouts and one title defense, Artur, with a perfect 19-0 record, became eligible to fight for the WBO Lightweight Championship world title. The title had recently been vacated by Oscar De La Hoya after he moved up to the light welterweight division.

Grigorian faced Puerto Rican Antonio Rivera on 13 April 1996, for the vacant WBO Lightweight title. Both were the two top contenders in the Lightweight division. Artur won by knocking Rivera out in the twelfth round and became the new WBO Lightweight Champion.

After four title defenses, Grigorian defended his belt against undefeated challenger Marco Rudolph. Rudolph had bested Grigorian seven years earlier at the 1991 World Amateur Boxing Championship finals. Grigorian avenged his amateur defeat by stopping Rudolph in the sixth round.

Grigorian would continue to defend his title a total of seventeen times, a new record in the lightweight division. Artur was just one more defense away from becoming the longest reigning lightweight champion, but ultimately lost his belt to Acelino Freitas by unanimous decision on 3 January 2004. Grigorian had surgery on his right shoulder prior to the bout. Freitas lost the belt in his first title defense against Diego Corrales. Grigorian retired later that year after winning one more bout.

On 24 February 2009, at the age of 41, Artur came out of retirement for one more bout in which he won a six round unanimous decision against Bulgarian Kirkor Kirkorov. Kirkorov is also of Armenian descent and also a 1991 World Amateur Boxing Championships medalist.

Professional boxing record

38 Wins (22 knockouts, 16 decisions), 1 Loss (0 knockouts, 1 decision), 0 Draws[4]
Res.	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	38–1	Kirkor Kirkorov	PTS	6	24/02/2009	Universum Gym, Wandsbek, Hamburg, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	37–1	Vasile Herteg	TKO	4 (8)	11/09/2004	Kisstadion, Budapest, Hungary
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Lose	36–1	Acelino Freitas	UD	12	03/01/2004	Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States	Lost WBO Lightweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	36–0	Matt Zegan	MD	12	18/01/2003	Grugahalle, Essen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany	Retained WBO Lightweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	35–0	Stefano Zoff	UD	12	14/09/2002	Volkswagenhalle, Braunschweig, Niedersachsen, Germany	Retained WBO Lightweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	34–0	Rocky Martinez	TKO	8 (12)	05/01/2002	Bordelandhalle, Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany	Retained WBO Lightweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	33–0	Aldo Nazareno Rios	UD	12	16/06/2001	Kisstadion, Budapest, Hungary	Retained WBO Lightweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	32–0	Angel Jose Perez	TKO	6 (12)	24/02/2001	Sporthalle, Alsterdorf, Hamburg, Germany	Retained WBO Lightweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	31–0	Antonio Pitalua	UD	12	25/11/2000	Preussag Arena, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany	Retained WBO Lightweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	30–0	Zoltan Kalocsai	TKO	12 (12)	23/06/2000	FTC Stadium, Budapest, Hungary	Retained WBO Lightweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	29–0	Sandro Casamonica	TKO	9 (12)	19/02/2000	Estrel Convention Center, Neukoelln, Berlin, Germany	Retained WBO Lightweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	28–0	Wilson Enrique Galli	TKO	10 (12)	27/11/1999	Hansehalle, Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany	Retained WBO Lightweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	27–0	Michael Clark	KO	5 (12)	09/10/1999	Koenig Pilsener Arena, Oberhausen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany	Retained WBO Lightweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	26–0	Oscar Garcia Cano	UD	12	13/03/1999	Hansehalle, Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany	Retained WBO Lightweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	25–0	Giorgio Campanella	TD	10 (12)	24/10/1998	Sporthalle, Alsterdorf, Hamburg, Germany	Retained WBO Lightweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	24–0	Marco Rudolph	TKO	6 (12)	14/03/1998	Sporthalle, Wandsbek, Hamburg, Germany	Retained WBO Lightweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	23–0	David Armstrong	UD	12	11/10/1997	Stadthalle, Cottbus, Brandenburg, Germany	Retained WBO Lightweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	22–0	Raul Horacio Balbi	TKO	11 (12)	22/02/1997	Sporthalle, Wandsbek, Hamburg, Germany	Retained WBO Lightweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	21–0	Marty Jakubowski	UD	12	16/11/1996	Sporthalle, Wandsbek, Hamburg, Germany	Retained WBO Lightweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	20–0	Gene Reed	KO	2 (12)	21/09/1996	Sport und Erholungszentrum, Friedrichshain, Berlin, Germany	Retained WBO Lightweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	19–0	Antonio Rivera	KO	12 (12)	13/04/1996	Sporthalle, Wandsbek, Hamburg, Germany	Won vacant WBO Lightweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	18–0	Esteban Perez Quinones	TKO	6	02/10/1996	Stadthalle, Cottbus, Brandenburg, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	17–0	Paul Kaoma	PTS	8	02/12/1995	Carl Benz Halle, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	16–0	Jean-Marc Camaleri	TKO	2 (8)	07/10/1995	Festhalle, Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15–0	Pascal Ragaut	TKO	4 (8)	23/09/1995	Saaltheater Geulen, Aachen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14–0	Angel Aldama	TKO	5 (12)	19/08/1995	Eisstadion, Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany	Retained WBO Inter-Continental Lightweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	13–0	Carlos Pena	PTS	8	10/06/1995	Europahalle, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	12–0	Mark Smith	PTS	4	20/05/1995	Sporthalle, Alsterdorf, Hamburg, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	11–0	Antonio Strabello	TKO	8 (12)	01/04/1995	Saaltheater Geulen, Aachen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany	Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental Lightweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	10–0	Armando Juan Reyes	TKO	4 (8)	11/03/1995	Deutz Sporthalle, Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	9–0	Bobby Brewer	TD	4 (4)	28/01/1995	Sporthalle, Schoeneberg, Berlin, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	8–0	Benito Martinez	TKO	5	17/12/1994	Sporthalle, Alsterdorf, Hamburg, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	7–0	Jose Carlos Cantero	TKO	5	03/12/1994	Atelier Bruno Bruni, Hamburg, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	6–0	Alberto Alicea	TKO	5	22/10/1994	Hansehalle, Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	5–0	Oscar Palomino	PTS	8	10/09/1994	Sporthalle, Alsterdorf, Hamburg, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4–0	Senturk Ozdemir	TKO	5 (10)	23/07/1994	Sportforum, Lichtenberg, Berlin, Germany	Won vacant German International Lightweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	3–0	Pascal Montulet	PTS	8	28/05/1994	Tivoli Eissporthalle, Aachen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2–0	Marcelo Rodriguez	PTS	8	23/04/1994	Sporthalle Bildungszentrum, Halle, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	1–0	Juan Tubbs	TKO	2	10/04/1994	Universum Gym, Wandsbek, Hamburg, Germany	Grigorian's professional debut.

See also

• List of WBO world champions
• List of lightweight boxing champions

References

External links

• Professional boxing record for Artur Grigorian from BoxRec