21-year-old Armenian boxer Erik Israelyan is preparing for his first fight in the professional ring. His debut is scheduled for April 10 in Montreal as part of the Eye of the Tiger boxing event. The name of his first opponent remains unknown.
Israelyan is a world and European champion among juniors, as well as a bronze medalist at the U22 European Championship. In the past, he was at the center of a scandal when he refused to compete for the Armenian national team and demanded an apartment from the Boxing Federation. However, he later realized his mistake, apologized, and continued competing as part of the national team.
Despite his success in amateur boxing, Israelyan never secured a spot in Armenia’s senior national team. As a result, he decided to focus on a professional career by signing a contract with the Canadian promotion Eye of the Tiger Management. Another Armenian boxer, Erik Bazinyan, who has achieved significant success in professional boxing, also competes in the same organization.