Blonde Bombshell Fights March 3
Boxing trainer Edmund Tarverdyan is accustomed to working with Armenian boxing stars like Vanes Martirosyan, Art Hovhannisyan, Gabriel Tolmajyan (who upset Daulis Prescott in December) and others. The combat sports specialist has an extensive background in working with champions.
I caught up with the Glendale Fighting Club (GFC) coach at Sunday’s 2012 “Fit Expo” show at the downtown L.A. Convention Center. After he and his young competitors celebrated their victories at the fitness show’s tournaments, I talked boxing with Edmund and his fellow warrior Roman Mitichyan, an “Ultimate Fighter” star and actor.
I first asked the team about “Hye Fighter” Vanes Martirosyan (31-0, 19 KOs). After a change in management, a new baby and a new year for the prizefighter (whose last fight was in Oklahoma with Buddy McGirt cornering him), the “Nightmare” looks to keep his win streak alive as he will be facing Minnesota’s Troy Lawry on February 4 on the undercard of the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Marco Antonio Rubio matchup at the Alamodome in Texas.
Lowry (28-11, 17 KOs) has fought Andy Lee, Peter Quillin, Yuri Foreman, Hector Camacho, Matt Vanda, etc. and looks to be a “stay busy” fight says the camp. Vanes, who co-trains at the Wild Card with Freddie Roach, will be defending his WBC Silver Light Middleweight title this Saturday night.
The team is also busy training one of their other stars in their GFC stable known for their fierce gladiators.
But this particular fighter is not Armenian and is not a male. And this slugger would certainly stand out in any crowd. Edmund and Roman shared their enthusiasm about fast-rising superstar female fighter Ronda Rousey (4-0), who will be fighting Miesha Tate (12-2) March 3 in Columbus, Ohio. Their marquee matchup will air on Showtime for the women’s bantamweight title. Their clash is the main event on “Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey.”
Striking Coach Edmund raves about his protégé, who has burst on the scene in her four pro bouts–and four pro victories.
The unbeaten beauty gets a lot of attention for her beach bunny looks–but you can’t always judge a book by its cover.
This fighter is fiery–and an intimidating force–in the cage.
“She is a great overall athlete!” trainer Tarverdyan tells me. “Ronda’s a very good boxer and she’s had spectacular wins with first round stoppages.”
Rousey is an Olympic Judo Bronze Medalist who looks to be the new face in the sport, especially since Gina Carano is currently starring in movies and Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos was recently suspended for steroids. Many say Rousey has the chance to be an even bigger breakout star as she fights her way to the top.
Make way for the fresh face known as “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey, for her outgoing personality and ferocity in her fights. With only those four fights logged in, she’s already making a name for herself. This new star (who will turn 25 tomorrow, February 1) is now turning heads as she gains respect for her deft power moves in her matches.
Her striking coach, who is also a martial arts expert and champion, is impressed with her abundance of talent. And while she doesn’t have as much experience as Sacramento’s Miesha Tate, the 135-pound champ, Edmund says her background more than makes up for it.
“Miesha’s has several more fights than your fighter,” I note. “So do you think Ronda is the ‘underdog’ in this?”
“Ronda’s only had three amateur fights and four pro fights but with her big background she’ll do well,” nods GFC’s Tarverdyan, a boxing, MMA standup and Muay Thai coach. “I think she’s already a 3 1/2–1 favorite in the fight!”
“What do you think is her best weapon?” I ask.
“Her armbars!” Edmund replies quickly. “She stops them in 30 seconds.” All four wins came via first-round stoppages–and all under a minute with her signature armbars.
After talking to Team Rousey, I went over to the opposite side of the huge venue where Ronda Rousey herself was scheduled to make a special appearance at the Gaspari Nutrition booth. The Strikeforce contender already had a long line of fans waiting for her arrival.
Before she began greeting her admirers, I checked in with the Team Hayastan knockout as her March 3 bout approaches.
Ronda was confident and says training has been top notch.
“I can make weight this week,” the budding superstar and MMA 2011 “Female Fighter of the Year” told me with a smile. She fought earlier bouts at a higher 145.
In what will be her most high-profile fight to date, Rousey says she is more than ready to rock the cage.
“I’d fight her TODAY!” the blonde fighter and Team Gaspari member exclaims. “I AM READY.”
She said sparring and training has been going really well and the team is counting down the days till March 3.
Any prediction from the camp?
“First round stoppage,” Edmund Tarverdyan tells me about his “Submission Queen.” “And I think she will win by armbar, of course!”
As the line continued to form around her booth while the fighter signed glossy 8x10s, her growing legion of fans say they can’t wait to see her in action. While the majority of fans were male, the girls told me they really look up to her as a role model. They see Ronda as a successful and determined young woman in a male-dominated sport. And all the fans said they like her for her friendly and bubbly personality. “Plus she’s HOT!” the teens gathered around her stated, eyeing the MMA star just inches in front of them.
But don’t let her feminine looks and calendar girl appeal fool you.
Come March 3, we will all see what Ronda Rousey is really made of.
And if Team Rousey is right, this “Golden Girl” of Strikeforce will add another win to her ledger by an early stoppage of Miesha Tate.
Photos by Michele Chong and Steve Harpst
