06-07-09, Article in the Vanguard Weekly News, “Bringing Back the Bout: Vanguardians Interviews Boxing Promoter Kahren Harutyunyan”

On June 12th, Kahren Harutyunyan will make history in Glendale by successfully holding the first professional boxing match since 1947, when the sport was first outlawed in the jewel city. In early 2009, Mr. Harutyunyan and a willing city council decided enough was enough, professional boxing would return to Glendale. It is on a temporarily lifted ban that the first match will play out. This first bout, hosted by Mr. Harutyunyan’s company, Art of Boxing Promotions, will be crucial for determining if others will follow, for it’s no secret that Mr. Harutyunyan and his cause have a fight ahead of them. Plenty of Glendale residents echo the older generations’ anti boxing sentiments. A fear of gambling, violence and general malfeasance brought into the city by the public sport was vocalized at the city hall meeting in March. Still many citizens and city officials are interested in the cultural and economic value something as high profile and, frankly, different as a boxing match can bring to a city bogged down in debt. Vanguardians interviewed former boxing champion turned promoter Kahren Harutyunyan to find out how he wooed the Council, what he thinks of his detractors, and what he sees for the future of boxing in Glendale.

LM: What drew you to boxing and how has it changed your life?

KA: I started boxing when I was ten years old after playing the violin for one year. Being a boxer and being around great boxers has changed my life tremendously. When I was a kid, boxing gave me confidence, health and the ability to control myself, both inside and outside the ring. As I grew up and with success, I enjoyed people’s admiration and respect for my achievements. I also served as a role model for many youngsters and up-and-comers. I have made my parents and my family very proud of my boxing achievement and overall, along with my academic achievements, boxing has given me a great sense of worth. I met and have been influenced by some of the most influential people in the boxing business and am ready to put my experience and knowledge to work.

LM: How did you go about convincing the City Council that a sport, which was banned in their city for 62 years, was worth giving a shot?

KA: I started telling them my story, that as a world class boxer I had never had the chance to demonstrate my boxing abilities in my hometown, in front of my hometown fan base and make our city and myself proud of my achievements. I also told them that there are many other boxers like myself, who have lived in Glendale and made our city proud, without ever being able to compete in Glendale. I also told them the stories of our supporters, who follow our fighters throughout California and to Las Vegas to support them, and how hard it can be to continue being a dedicated supporter if you have to travel so much. Therefore, it would be great to have boxing in our own city. Moreover, as a promoter and a Glendale resident, I think having boxing in Glendale will put our city on the map under a very, very good light. It will also generate much-needed revenue for our civic auditorium. The sports fans that will come to Glendale to watch boxing will spend their money in Glendale restaurants and other Glendale businesses.

LM: How long did it take to convince them?

KA: It took me about a year and a half, from the first time that I brought it to the council members’ attention to the date of our first show. It took us time to do some research and go over the logistics of how the show will be organized, but I am glad and proud that we are about to witness history in Glendale, and I am happy to have been behind this movement.

LM: How will you get the City Council to change the “temporary” status of professional boxing in Glendale to “permanent?”

KA: Well, we need to have a very successful first event, so that the City Council, the public, the sports fans, the fighters, the press, and everyone else will be happy and willing to host more boxing shows in Glendale.

LM: What do you have to say to the residents of Glendale who feel that boxing events bring negative elements like gambling and violence to the community?

KA: Of course, there will be people who will disagree with us as well as our supporters or who won't be as excited about having boxing in Glendale, but that is entirely fine. It is only natural that people will have different opinions about different subjects. There is not a single thing in life that is loved and supported by everyone equally. There are negative elements in all aspects of life but we need to remain positive and work on developing the positive aspects of life. Though we can find a negative light in everything, that doesn't mean that everything is bad in life. Violence and gambling can happen anywhere, anytime, anyhow and no one can predict or prevent them entirely. I suggest that we all try to do the best thing and make our community a better place. I can easily point out many negative aspects in our city, or in any other city, but that won't help anyone.

LM: What positives will boxing bring to Glendale?

KA: Boxing will bring our community together for world-class sports entertainment. It will encourage our young generation to pursue a profession in sports entertainment and to use their notoriety to achieve bigger and better things in life. Moreover, it will bring much-needed revenue to our city. On June 12th, first timers, along with the long timers, can experience world-class boxing entertainment, featuring some of the most talented and exciting local fighters. They can also expect to be in a great environment of passionate sports fans, which will enjoy great food, drinks and festivities together. We have also invited some of the most recognizable boxing celebrities and they will all be there to support our event to meet and greet our sports fans.

LM: What are the cultural/ artistic benefits of professional live boxing events?

KA: Boxing culture is very interesting, honest, and sincere. Everyone always talks about the violence in boxing, but I look at it as an art form. There is the accuracy, the precision, timing, movement, honest competition and respect toward your opponent and the fans. And when two people in the audience see two honest combatants, who just finished their fight and embrace each other in the ring, a fight outside the ring among two sports fans is the last thing on their minds.

LM: What are your greatest expectations for the fight? Any fears?

KA: My greatest expectations are for a fight to be exciting, entertaining and competitive. I want the two fighters to give the many fans their monies worth. I have no fears, because I know that all of our fighters are professionals and they know very well what they are doing.

LM: Your list of boxers features mostly local talent. Do you think Glendale has the potential to become a breeding ground for the sport's best fighters?

KA: Glendale definitely has a potential to be a breeding ground for the sports’ best fighters. If not the best, Glendale has produced fighters that have been among the best. What we need at this point is to develop the fan base and the market for our fighters; otherwise the fighters have, done, and will continue to compete at the highest levels.

For more details about the event, please visit: http://www.artofboxingpromotions.com/

Vanguardians Council Reporter Laurel Miller