Boxer Vanes Martirosyan Has Passed Away: A Champion, Olympian, and National Legend

Renowned Armenian-American boxer Vanes Norik Martirosyan has died at the age of 40. The cause of death was squamous cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer he had been battling for only a year.

Martirosyan was one of the most prominent figures in both Armenian and American boxing. An eight-time champion of Armenia, a U.S. Golden Gloves winner, and a participant in the 2004 Olympic Games, he built an impressive professional career. He captured the NABF world title, the vacant NABO championship, and the WBA International, WBC Silver, and WBO Inter-Continental belts in the light middleweight division.

His final fight took place in 2018 — against the legendary Gennadiy Golovkin.

In the last months of his life, Martirosyan spoke openly about his battle with the disease and his hope for recovery. His words, which now sound like a farewell, resonate with painful clarity:

“I pray to God to heal me… I’m praying for a miracle. The doctors say this is so rare it affects only 1% of people. You know, my brother died of a heart attack at 40. My mom and dad already reserved their burial spots next to him. I told them I don’t want to be next.”

The sports world mourns the loss of a gifted fighter who left an indelible mark on the history of boxing.