Vanes Martirosyan Dies at 39 After Skin Cancer Battle

Vanes Martirosyan, a 2004 U.S. Olympian and former world title challenger in professional boxing, died Sunday at age 39 after a two-year battle with skin cancer.

The Armenian-born fighter, who moved to Glendale, California, with his family at age four, passed away following treatment for the illness, according to his publicist Bernie Bahrmasel and World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman. Martirosyan had publicly discussed his diagnosis in late 2024, revealing that a biopsy confirmed squamous cell carcinoma after he experienced severe pain. His death marks another loss for the boxing community this year, where several fighters have succumbed to health challenges.

Martirosyan's career began as an amateur standout. At 18, he earned a spot in the Athens Olympics by defeating future world champion Andre Berto in the U.S. qualifiers. Competing in the welterweight division, he advanced to the second round before losing a decision to Cuba's Lorenzo Aragon. He turned professional in 2005 at age 20, training under renowned coach Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles.

Over 13 years, Martirosyan built an impressive resume, finishing with a record of 36 wins, five...