Interview: Kahren Harutyunyan Brings His Love of Boxing to Los Angeles

Nothing says happy holidays quite like two guys putting on the gloves and mixing it up in the squared circle. Well at least that's how Kahren Harutyunyan feels. Kahren is the head of AOB: Art of Boxing Promotions. Art of Boxing is the newest promotion company to hit (pun intended) Los Angeles. The former champion has a roster of up and coming boxers who are ready for their shot at in ring glory. Art of Boxing has a big event coming up on December 20th at the Hollywood Park Race Track and Casino in Inglewood California. The event titled "Seasons Beatings" will feature a number of young, new fighters as well as three former world champions. Kahren took time from his busy schedule to talk to about how he got started in the world of boxing, how he turned into a promoter and what fans can expect from this new Boxing organization.

Associated Content: Kahren how did you get involved in Boxing? How old were you when you got involved in the sport?

Kahren Harutyunyan: I got into boxing at the age of ten. My father wanted me to get into a sport that could make me both physically and mentally strong. I chose boxing at a very early age in Armenia. Once my family moved to the United States in 1997 I kept up with the sport and in 1999 I won a US Open Boxing Championship.

AC: When did you turn pro?

KH: In 2000 I teamed up with Freddie Roach. He was a great trainer and in April of 2005 I won the NBAO Jr. Bantamweight title. We had a great run...I had a chance to spar with and work with some of the best in the business.

AC: How did you decide to get into Boxing Promotions?

KH: I always wanted to stay in the sport even after retirement. Most fighters go straight to becoming a coach/trainer when they retire. I just wanted to do something extra. I went to UCLA and earned a degree in English and I also went to Fight Promoter University (FPU) and got my license to promote fights. I had always managed myself when I fought so I already had some of the basic knowledge needed to work in the world of promotions.

AC: What's the goal of Art of Boxing Promotions? Are you looking to just put on great club shows or do you want to compete with some of the bigger promotions?

KH: We want to grow and to be at the same level as say Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions. We have done two shows in LA and our next one is coming up on December 20th in Inglewood. We are getting bigger names to join our roster of talent and we are developing our fighters and getting ready to sign some exclusive contracts with them. We do not want to just stay at the club level. The goal is to develop our fighters and increase our fanbase.

AC: Many fans see sports such as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and Ultimate Fighting as sports that are cutting into the Boxing market. Can Boxing compete with these extreme sports?

KH: In my opinion MMA has to compete with Boxing! There is a tradition with Boxing...this is a sport that has been around for thousands of years. It's not going anywhere. Both of these extreme sports are huge but they can't kill Boxing...the sport just has too much history.

AC: Vic Darchinyan is the biggest name in boxing of Armenian descent right now. Is one of the goals of AOB to find and cultivate a serious boxer of Armenian descent?

KH: Oh yes of course. Los Angeles is a multicultural city so we can't just work with the Armenian community. We are working with boxers from all of the different communities in LA, but we do want to work with the Armenian community and find an Armenian boxer right here in LA and tap into that fanbase. We already have some great Armenian fighters with us now. We want the community to rally around these fighters. We want the community to know we have some great fighters on our roster and they need your support.

AC: You have a big event coming up December 20th at the Hollywood Park Race Track and Casino. What can fight fans expect to see at your event?

KH: They can expect to see a lot of great fights that night! We have some great, world class fighters on the card. Two of the fighters on the card are former world champions. We some great fights coming up in December with some high caliber boxers who are ready to give their all come December 20th.

Come on out to Hollywood Park in Inglewood and see some of the newest names in the sport of Boxing.