David Avanesyan: Fighting Forward, One Challenge at a Time

David Avanesyan: Fighting Forward, One Challenge at a Time

The Ring Magazine's No. 4-ranked welterweight, David Avanesyan (35-5-1, 19 KO), recently added another chapter to his storied career with a fight in Phuket, Thailand. Known for his relentless determination and willingness to face tough opponents, the 36-year-old fighter reflected on his journey, motivations, and career in an exclusive interview.

A surprising name on a fight card in Thailand, Avanesyan’s presence immediately stood out. It’s not every day a top-ranked fighter competes in a local event far removed from the grand arenas typically associated with world-class boxing. The 36-year-old Armenian-Russian has always been willing to take on challenges, no matter where they lead him.

Representing both Armenia and Russia is a significant source of pride for the fighter. “I represent two countries,” he said. “It’s a huge source of motivation. When the anthem of your country plays, it’s an honor, even though now the flag and anthem are sometimes a problem. Everyone watching knows the connection. That’s why, for me, it’s a privilege to represent Armenia and Russia.”

He also discussed how inspiring younger fighters keeps him motivated. “A lot of kids watched my fights and started going to the gym because of it,” he said. “Some are from my city; some are not. They’ve seen something in me that pushed them to take up the sport. That matters. It shows all the time I’ve spent on my career hasn’t been wasted if it inspires even a few boys to start boxing.”

But Avanesyan’s journey hasn’t been without its struggles. He spoke candidly about moments of doubt. “There were many times, in my career and in life, where I thought about leaving,” he admitted. “It was difficult to stay in the sport, but thanks to God, I didn’t give up. God gave me signs to keep going, and that’s why I’m here today.”

Reflecting on his career, the welterweight discussed the lessons he’s learned from sharing the ring with world-class opponents such as Shane Mosley (49-10-1, 41 KO), Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KO), and Jaron Ennis (33-0, 29 KO). “When you fight people at that level, you realize you belong there too,” he explained. “It shows the path you’ve walked wasn’t for nothing—all the work, sweat, and sacrifices in the gym. It makes you more confident in yourself, and there’s satisfaction in knowing you’ve reached that level.”

One of the most compelling parts of our conversation centered on his fight against Crawford. The former title challenger recounted the challenges leading up to and during the bout. “When I got offered the Crawford fight, it was, of course, a big chance for me,” he said. “But when we arrived, I didn’t like how things were organized. Then, during the fight, in the second round, Crawford hit my head. It wasn’t a strong punch, but it felt like I was hit by a blunt object. I thought my bones were broken. At that moment, I didn’t even think about his gloves being torn.”

He described how the fight unfolded. “In the beginning, for maybe four or five rounds, I felt like I could box him. He took some punches. In the second round, I hit his liver, and you can’t hide that kind of punch—I saw him exhale and knew he felt it. As the sixth round began, the referee called a time-out when they noticed Crawford’s gloves were torn. However, they didn’t change the gloves, and that was the round Crawford launched his attack, and the fight was stopped.

“I never thought at this level there could be problems like that. To be honest, I can’t comment on it nicely—it was an ugly situation from him and his team.”

Avanesyan also reflected on his rivalry with Josh Kelly (16-1, 8 KO). The fight, originally set for 2018, was delayed multiple times before finally happening in 2021. “Back in 2018, three hours before the fight, my manager called to say Kelly wasn’t feeling well,” he recalled. “I had trained for two months, sacrificed a lot, and then it didn’t happen. Later, when he was my mandatory for the European title, the date kept changing. They acted like they were champions already. When we finally fought, it was war for me. Thank God I won. People doubted me, but I proved my place with that fight. In the end, it was a good victory.”

On fight day in Phuket, Avanesyan stepped into a venue worlds away from the grand stages he’s used to. A small local gym hosted the event, but his focus and professionalism remained unwavering. His opponent, Sadudee Srimueang (11-4, 6 KO), a Thai southpaw with years of experience, came out aggressively. However, Avanesyan quickly adjusted and began applying pressure. By the 1:35 mark in the first round, he landed a hard combination that sent Srimueang to the canvas for the count. The Thai fighter was unable to recover and announced his retirement from professional boxing afterward.

When asked why he didn’t try to get more rounds in, the welterweight explained, “I wanted to, but Srimueang came out hard, so I thought, let’s get him out of here.”

Toward the end of the day, Avanesyan asked me, “Do you think Crawford is done at 147?”

“Yeah,” I replied. “Crawford’s up at 154 now.”

“Ennis—I fought him. Who else is in my weight division?”

“Eimantas Stanionis,” I suggested.

“I think that’s a good fight,” he said. “Also, , WBC No. 4, Raul Curiel. His WBC rating is good. I’m open to big fights and good fights. Who’s the champion?”

“Mario Barrios,” I said, which prompted Avanesyan to crack a smile and laugh.

“If my manager calls tomorrow and says, ‘David, you will fight so-and-so,’ I’ll fight anyone,” he said confidently.

When asked how he wants to be remembered, Avanesyan replied thoughtfully. “For me, it’s important that people remember me as a good person, a boxer who never said no to a fight, no matter how strong my opponent was. From the start of my career until now, I’ve taken the hardest fights without worrying about my record. That’s how I want to be remembered.”

As the day came to a close, one thing was clear: Avanesyan is living in the present. Balancing humility with fierce determination, he remains a fighter with unfinished business and much more to give to the sport he loves.