Martirosyan Stops Wallace In 1st Round TKO!

Former 2004 American Olympic welterweight, now competing as a light middleweight, Vanes Martirosyan (17-0, 12 KOs) obliterated his over-matched opponent Don Wallace (9-3, 3 KOs) in the 1st round on Thursday night at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Martirosyan hurt Wallace early with a right hand and then continued hitting him with combinations before sending him down with a big right hand, causing Wallace to hit his head hard against the canvas. Wallace attempted to make it up but immediately staggered and fell into the arms of referee Russell Mora, whom promptly stopped the bout at 1:34 of the 1st round.

Martirosyan, still only 21, after eating several excellent jabs from Wallace, 30, in the opening seconds of the fight, staggered him with with a monstrous right hand. Before he could collect himself, Martirosyan followed up with another huge right hand causing Wallace to grab and hold onto him to prevent from going down. As soon as they were separated by the referee, Martirosyan hit Wallace with a devastating lead right hand followed by a beautiful hook to the head.

Wallace would show good recuperative skills, as he came back with several excellent jabs. However, the heavy-handed Martirosyan immediately answered back with a series of blistering 1-2 combinations, backing Wallace up in the process. Martirosyan then landed a left, and three consecutive right hands, the last connecting like sledgehammer and sending Wallace down flat on his back on the canvas. The referee then quickly moved in and halted the bout at 1:34 of the 1st round.

Martirosyan along with Alfredo Angulo and James Kirkland, are arguably the best light middleweight prospects in the division, and will no doubt be challenging for a title before long.