Finally the wait is over: Universum middleweight Khoren Gevor in a world title fight! The #5 of the IBF rankings is the mandatory challenger of world champion Arthur Abraham. Both fighters, who are German citizens with Armenian roots, will face each other on August 18 at the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin..
Not only the sporting career of the Universum fighter Khoren Gevor had some eventful and unusual moments but also his private life. He started boxing when he was 12 years old. Ever since, the Armenian born dreamed of winning a world championship belt. As a Amateur he won six national Armenian titles. But Khoren didn’t see his boxing future in Armenia and therefore he immigrated to Germany at the age of 16 in order to fulfil his dream there. When he arrived in Germany he lived in a children’s home in a town named Günzenhausen in Bavaria for the following three years. As there was no boxing club nearby he had to travel 2 ½ hrs every day to Nuremberg and train there. The survivalist Gevor had more obstacles to take than expected to remain in Germany and continue his boxing dream in the following years.
After a very successful Amateur career with 72 wins in 75 fights and six national Armenian titles he turned pro in 2000. Khoren Gevor signed a contract with Universum Box-Promotion and worked together with Torsten Schmitz in 13 fights. Afterwards he was trained by Michael Timm and Magomed Schaburow before his final switch to Fritz Sdunek. He is a very ambitious athlete, sometime a bit overambitious so that his trainer and father figure Sdunek says „if I don’t kick him out of the gym he won’t stop his training“. Besides he writes down his weight and his meals daily. Although there are a great team, Gevor states about his daily notes: „He is not inside my body and I’m doing this for myself. “
The 28 year old middleweight is an absolute family person. His wife Nenel is expecting their first child in September but he is also a stepfather to her sons Abel (14) and Norayr (16). Both are also boxers – fighting for a club in Hamburg – and have already become Northern Germany champions. Whenever they have some free time they are studying boxing videos of the idol: „Dad“ Khoren. Gevor doesn’t have a driving license so he loves to ride his bike and besides he loves to build his own car models. On every occasion he is spending time in front of his computer and works on his small racing car. After his boxing career he wants to work as a 3D graphic designer to devote to his passion of cars although he can only drive it with a controller.
His only two defeats were in 2002 when he lost against Lukas Konecny in a fight for the International German Championship at light middleweight. He lost both fights due to intentional head butts by the Czech which caused heavy cuts above the eyes. Since than he has won the WBO and IBF Interconti belt. After a long wait he is now ready to face Artur Abraham for the IBF world championship at middleweight. It will be his 30th fight.
„I have waited for this moment for so long and here I am. I’m undertaking a tough training preparation to be in the best shape for this challenge and dethrone the world champion“, the highly motivated Gevor states. „When I know that there is somebody better than me than I will retire!“
Also Coach Fritz Sdunek is happy for Khoren and is looking forward to this tough challenge: „Khoren deserves this chance more than anybody and he worked so hard. He was already so close before this chance came up. Our preparation was very intense and we know that Abraham can be beaten!“
PRESSETERMINE BERLIN / PRESS TIMETABLE
BOXGALA AM 18.08.2007, MAX-SCHMELING-HALLE, BERLIN
Montag, 13.08., 13.00 Uhr / Monday, Aug 13, 1.00 pm
Öffentliches Pressetraining / Public work out
Ort / Place: Axel-Springer-Passage, Markgrafenstrasse 19 a, 10888 Berlin
Mittwoch, 15.08., 13.00 Uhr / Wednesday, Aug 15, 1.00 pm
Pressekonferenz / Press conference
Ort / Place: Hotel Maritim pro Arte, Friedrichstrasse 151, 10117 Berlin
Anschließend Fototermin Arthur Abraham und Khoren Gevor vor dem Brandenburger Tor
Freitag, 17.08., 16.00 Uhr / Friday, Aug 17, 4.00 pm
Offizielles Wiegen / Weigh-in
Ort / Place: Hotel Maritim pro Arte, Friedrichstrasse 151, 10117 Berlin