PROSPECT WATCH: GURGEN HOVHANNISYAN
With just nine fights under his belt, the fast-developing 28-year-old is already rated in the WBA’s top 10. Hovhannisyan (9-0, 8 KOs) appears to be a bona fide puncher in the sport’s glamour division, but he also has an all-star team pushing him toward the promised land, as he’s trained by Hall of Fame coach Joe Goossen and is affiliated with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions. “I’m ready to make my mark with the next wave of heavyweights,” Hovhannisyan told The Ring. “I’m still developing, but I’m confident that I can compete and beat any of the top heavyweights around the world. I’m ready for all the challenges once they come my way.” “Big Gug” Hovhannisyan moved from Gyumri, Armenia, to Los Angeles in 2021 to make his pro debut and has been under Goossen’s watch ever since. The 72-year-old Goossen is looking to give Hovhannisyan his Midas touch,
much like he did with Michael Nunn and brothers Gabriel and Rafael Ruelas by coaching them all the way to world title glory. “I wholeheartedly believe a hundred percent that Gurgen can become a world champion,” Goossen told The Ring. “I don’t like fooling anybody, and I really don’t like fooling myself. I am not going to spend years of my life chasing a ghost and a phantom idea. Gurgen has got the goods and I believe in him. “At first glance, Gurgen resembles Tyson Fury, especially when he shaves his head. He’s a big man with different tools and dimensions and has his own identity. He has great footwork; he’s athletic and fights with angles; he’s a solid puncher who brings pressure and can also be a plodder who leans in on
you to get the job done. His versatility is a huge plus for a heavyweight. He’s a workaholic who rarely takes time off, even when he doesn’t have a fight lined up. He understands where he’s going and what’s necessary to get there.” But Hovhannisyan isn’t merely a massive man looking to fill a heavyweight void in a sport Armenians have traditionally excelled at. He has been boxing since the age of 5 and built a tremendous amateur background with over 120 fights before moving to the United States. Hovhannisyan’s manager, Vartan Torosyan, has been instrumental in shaping his career by arranging the move to America, serving as a father-like figure by sponsoring accommodations in L.A., and by handing the coaching keys to Goossen, a longtime confidant. “Joe would always tell me, ‘When are you going to bring me a heavyweight?’ And as soon as he saw videos of Gurgen, he was all in,” said Torosyan. “It’s rare
They say you’re only as good as your last fight. I say you’re only as good as your next fight. We have to keep looking spectacular with knockout wins, and that will determine Gurgen’s next fights. That’s the goal – to keep stepping up, wash, rinse, repeat and do it several times. Soon, the opponents will get bigger, along with his purses and his notoriety.” Hovhannisyan is described as a gentle giant who has a mean streak, and yet is always smiling and respectful. He’s also embracing the potential of building a fervent fan base outside of his country by improving his English to better showcase his charisma and personality.
Hovhannisyan has a variety of weapons at his disposal.
to find a heavyweight with his size, speed, power and the talent, and we believe Gurgen will be talked about as an elite heavyweight for years to come.” Goossen is particularly impressed by how well Hovhannisyan has developed. “Gurgen had a solid amateur apprenticeship that served him well, but professional heavyweight boxing in the U.S. is a different form and function than it is around the world,” said Goossen. “Gurgen had a lot to learn, and he’s gained the knowledge and understanding. The fact that we have not rushed him is a good thing. He’s adapted and matured physically and mentally and knows what’s expected of him. He’s made tremendous strides over the last two years and is in a much different place. He has the skills and talent and is at the perfect age to make his move. It’s all coming together. This is going to be Gurgen’s year, and we’re expecting high- level performances.” Hovhannisyan said the only things that have gone against him to this point are extended stretches of inactivity and an injury that scuttled a fight against former titleholder Charles Martin in 2023. Hovhannisyan’s best win to date came in his fourth fight, when he stopped the
“I never wished upon a star that I’d train a heavyweight champion,” said Goossen. “But I’ve got Gurgen and we have one shot around the track at this thing. And we have to give it everything we’ve got, because it can all be gone in a blink of an eye. We have no time to waste in this fleeting sport. “Gurgen has had enough fights and invaluable sparring sessions. He’s already a world-ranked contender and could be a few fights away from the big prize. Fighters rotate in and rotate out, and you see the turning point right now. His time is coming, and we’ll be knocking on the door really soon.” Hovhannisyan will have to jockey for position among an already proven pack, as well as other up-and-coming prospects, to reach the doorstep. He’s confident that he has the talent and top- notch team to get him there. “It will be an unbelievable accomplishment to become the first Armenian heavyweight champion in boxing history,” said Hovhannisyan. “I’m getting more seasoned and experienced with each fight, and I should be ready for all comers and to challenge for the title by the end of 2027. Once I get to the top, I plan on staying there.”
Hovhannisyan lost to Bakhodir Jalolov in the amateur ranks.
highly capable Michael Polite-Coffie in six rounds in 2022. To compare, Wardley also stopped Polite-Coffie, but in his 16th fight and six months after Hovhannisyan. “It’s been hard finding guys who are willing to fight him,” said Torosyan. “It’s also hard finding high-level sparring partners, because he keeps hurting them and they don’t come back.” As for dealing with adversity, Hovhannisyan overcame a turbulent night in the ring when he fought off heavy illness and big punches to beat Patrick Mailata by majority decision in December 2024. “Sometimes I need to take a punch to feel like I’m in a real fight,” Hovhannisyan said with a smile. It’s all happening at the right time, says Goossen, adding that heavyweights are traditionally late bloomers. “The performances will indicate how we’re going to advance accordingly as we keep stepping up the competition,” said Goossen. “It’s always one fight at a time.
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