Boxing Promoter Scores Big In A Legal Battle
Posted by Igor Frank on 03.12.2009
Kahren Harutyunyan of Art of Boxing Promotions convinces Glendale City Council to lift a sixty two year old ban on professional boxing.
City leaders vetoed professional boxing in the city of Glendale, California in 1947 when Muhammad Ali, the greatest heavyweight of all times was only five years old. Local residents felt that boxing was unsavory and barbaric sport and forced city officials to deny all requests to hold any pugilistic event. Boxing prohibition in Glendale lasted a lot longer than the one on alcohol. That is until, UCLA graduate, who hopes to get into a law school next, boxer turned promoter Harutyunyan started lobbying the council to allow professional boxing contests in a city with rich history of the sweet science.
Even though they still have reservations, on Tuesday four City Council members said they would vote to approve the one year trial run next week.
"I am hoping everything will be OK," said Councilman Bob Yousefian: "But I will be watching it like a hawk." To understand just how big of victory this is for a young promoter, consider that my friend, an owner of a small automotive business in Glendale fought City Council for four years to install a big neon sign in front of his establishment without anything to show for it in the end.
The first show is tentatively scheduled for June 12th, 2009 at the Civic Auditorium with a limited capacity of eleven hundred. All the pressure is on Kahren Harutyunyan and his promotional company; he would have to spring for a cost of five Glendale police units and a fire marshal as well as supply eight door monitors and four private security guards."It does put on a little pressure," said Harutyunyan: "But it's just another milestone in my professional career." I remember covering the first event staged by the Art of Boxing Promotions in 2007. It was held at the Warner Marriot in Woodland Hills and featured several talented fighters from Glendale. I remember thinking why not stage it Glendale, I did not know about the ban then. Harutyunyan had to learn on the job about challenges of being a promoter, such as medical part of it and all the city requirements along with rules of California Athletic Commission. With all the adversities the first event "The Warner Center War" was a sell out and a huge hit among the local boxing fans. Last year Harutyunyan put on two events, one topping the other: "The Warner Center War 2" and a great show to cap 2008 by the LA airport at the local casino. This year however, the young promoter seems to be operating on a whole new level. Next Saturday the Art of Boxing Promotions is staging a private boxing show at the famed Playboy Mansion. The show that will feature a wealth of talent will be televised by Azteca TV and the June show in Glendale will be sold out before it will ever get announced.
Boxing world should take notice. Bob Arum, Don King beware there is a new kid in town. Stay tuned for a final vote next Tuesday.
