By: Alejandra Rosas

The adrenaline rushes, the rapid heart beats, the sweat drips from his forehead, and a focused mind on where to throw the next punch embody Aram Oganesyan (’15) when he wears his 10 oz. blue Everlast boxing gloves in the boxing ring.

Oganesyan began boxing at the age of seven and has been training at the Main Event Gym in Glendale ever since.

Boxing is a competitive sport in which two people hit each other with their fists and use different types of stylistic approaches during the fight.

Oganesyan’s passion for boxing first arose at the age of six when his father took him to see professional boxer Vanes Martirosyan. Since childhood, Oganesyan’s eyes were glued to the television screen whenever Martirosyan’s matches were on.

“[Martirosyan] became my idol and I realized I wanted to be like him in the ring,” Oganesyan said.

At the age of seven, Oganesyan was strongly encouraged by his father and his father’s friends to box. Even though he was involved with swimming at the time, he was willing to quit and constantly train in order to become a boxer.

Rough, tough, and independent are adjectives that describe boxing and embody Oganesyan’s personality.

Father Haykaram Oganesyan says he always got him all the training he needed to continue boxing since the first day Aram told him he wanted to become a boxer.

“I always encourage him to train harder because his coach, his friends, and I all see the potential in him to get really far with professional boxing,” Haykaram said.

Without hesitation, Haykaram agreed to take him to a boxing gym where he began learning the basic skills and techniques from a trainer, 62-year-old Abo Gharapetyan.

Gharapetyan was an underground boxer with the title of European Champion in Abovyan, Armenia. Thirty years ago, he retired to become a trainer and has used his life-long experience to help kids like Oganesyan develop the skills to fight.

According to Gharapetyan, Aram is a very “keen” and dedicated boxer who shows his passion every time he steps into the gym ready to fight.

“I constantly tell Aram that he’s very strong,” Gharapetyan said. “[He] knows he has the potential to go pro if he wanted to.”

Aram started off competing at the Golden Gloves competition and moved on to Silver Gloves which he both won.

Recently, he competed at the Chino Hills Boxing Club on April 14 for the Junior Olympics in which he won the title of “state champion.”
His next competition is on May 13 at Reno, Nevada for the Junior Olympics regionals.

He trains on a strict regimen three times a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 11 a.m. until he feels he has done enough preparing for the day.

Although he already trains three times a week, he used to train five days a week, but because he recently joined football, he has decided to take time off of boxing to balance both. Aram decided to join football because he considers it more of an intense and aggressive sport.

“I like the moment when you’re pressured to do well, and similarly to boxing, in football, you either make it or break it,” Aram said.

He says that boxing has become his entire life and is something he puts constant effort into on a daily basis whether it is by practicing, looking at videos of boxing matches, or building up his stamina by constantly working out.

Aram trains by doing a lot of cardio exercises usually consisting of running and sparring. He believes that working out and eating an abundant amount of carbohydrates and proteins every day is what improves his strength and his ability to do better in a match.

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Throughout his day, Aram eats at least one plate of whole grain pasta, two plates of meat, and replaces unhealthy snacks with apples, carrots, and other items.

“I love the feeling of relieving my stress in the ring with gloves on my hands and my arms ready to swing,” Aram said.

Every time he has the opportunity to go to the gym, he lets out all the emotions and aggressions he has bottled up through practicing his punches.

Aram often practices his fighting skills with friend Armen Gumrikyan (’13) who has been boxing for five years.

“Aram is a boxer who puts a lot of time and dedication into boxing,” Gumrikyan said. “He’s really good in the aspect of being fast, having a strong right [arm] and a pretty good jab.”

Balancing school work, football, and boxing is not an easy task, especially as a freshman, but Aram plans to continue being involved in the sport he grew up with and couldn’t be more fervent about.

“I would never stop boxing, even if I had a million things to do and no time,” Aram said. “Boxing and being in that ring is just part of who I am.”