Giorgio Petrosyan facts for kids

Gevorg "Giorgio" Petrosyan (Armenian: Գևորգ Պետրոսյան; born December 10, 1985) is a famous Armenian-Italian kickboxer. He is known as "The Doctor" because of his amazing skills in the ring. He is very good at defending himself and has defeated many top fighters. Many people think he is one of the best kickboxers ever.

Giorgio moved to Italy from Armenia when he was thirteen. He started his professional fighting career at sixteen. He began as a lighter fighter and then moved up to the middleweight division. He won many titles along the way. From 2007 to 2013, he had an amazing streak of forty-two fights without a loss. This is one of the longest winning streaks in the sport's history.

Giorgio's Early Life

Giorgio Petrosyan was born in Yerevan, Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, which is now Armenia. This was on December 10, 1985. When he was thirteen, he moved to Italy with his father and older brother. They arrived in the country without official papers.

At first, they were homeless in Milan. They slept in train stations and on the streets. Later, a family in Gorizia helped them. They offered them work as night watchmen. After settling in Italy, Giorgio's mother, sister, and younger brother, Armen, joined them. Armen is also a world champion kickboxer.

Giorgio was inspired by martial arts movies. He decided to start training in Muay Thai at fourteen. He was first turned away from the gym for being too small. But he kept trying and began training under Alfio Romanut. He had his first fight when he was sixteen. Giorgio still lives in Gorizia, Northern Italy. He worked as a bricklayer when he was younger.

Giorgio's Fighting Career

Starting in Muay Thai (2002–2006)

Giorgio Petrosyan began his fighting career at sixteen. His first fight was in February 2002. He won, even though he broke his toes! For the next five years, he mostly fought under Muay Thai rules.

In November 2003, he won his first title. He became the Muay Thai Association (MTA) Italian national champion. He kept moving up in weight and skill. In 2004, he won the MTA European Championship. He defended this title successfully in 2005.

In 2005, he fought to a draw with a three-time champion in Italy. Later that year, he won the WMC Intercontinental Welterweight Championship in Slovenia.

Giorgio then traveled to Thailand to train. He won a fight there in February 2006. He returned to Italy and won a four-man tournament in April 2006. He finished both his opponents in the first round. He became a world champion for the first time in June 2006. He won the Kombat League World Muay Thai Championship. He defended this title three times that year.

In December 2006, he moved up to middleweight. He won an eight-man tournament at Janus Fight Night 2006. This showed he was ready to compete in this new weight class.

First Loss and Kickboxing Success (2007–2008)

Giorgio fought at the famous Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, in January 2007. This was his first loss. He said he had stomach cramps during the fight.

He quickly bounced back with two wins in Italy. Then, he had a big fight against Buakaw Por. Pramuk in Sweden in May 2007. The fight was a split draw, so Buakaw kept his title.

Petrosyan then defeated Abdallah Mabel twice in two months. He also won the Janus Fight Night 2007 tournament. He beat familiar opponents like Abdallah Mabel and Marco Piqué again.

In early 2008, Giorgio started fighting under Oriental rules kickboxing. He joined the It's Showtime organization. He won his first fight with them in March 2008. He also started fighting in K-1 events. He won two fights there in April 2008.

He had a few more wins in Muay Thai. Then, in November, he won two more kickboxing fights. He beat Naruepol Fairtex and Warren Stevelmans.

Winning K-1 World MAX Tournaments (2009–2010)

In January 2009, Petrosyan won the World Kickboxing Network (WKN) Intercontinental Championship. In March 2009, he had a big win against Andy Souwer, a two-time K-1 MAX champion. This was a major upset.

With his impressive record, Petrosyan was invited to the K-1 World MAX Tournament. In April 2009, he won his first fight in the tournament. He then beat Albert Kraus, another K-1 MAX champion, in July.

In October 2009, he reached the K-1 World MAX final. He beat Yuya Yamamoto in the semi-finals but broke his hand. Despite his injury, he fought Andy Souwer again in the final. Petrosyan won by a unanimous decision. He became the K-1 World MAX Tournament Champion!

He had to miss a fight because of his broken hand. But he returned in January 2010 to defend his WKN title. He won by TKO. He also beat Kem Sitsongpeenong in March 2010. However, he hurt his hand again.

After healing, Petrosyan returned to the K-1 World MAX Tournament in October 2010. He won his first fight against Vitaly Gurkov. In November 2010, he won the K-1 World MAX tournament again! He beat Albert Kraus and Mike Zambidis. In the final, he defeated Yoshihiro Sato. This made him the only fighter to defend a K-1 MAX title. He broke his hand for the third time during this tournament.

Changing Promotions (2011–2012)

Giorgio Petrosyan continued to fight and win in 2011. He beat Sudsakorn Sor Klinmee and Cosmo Alexandre. In May 2011, his fight was ruled a no contest because of an accidental low blow.

In July 2011, he won against Hinata in Tokyo. But he broke his hand for the fourth time. Because of his injury, he had to miss a big tournament.

After hand surgery, he fought again in November 2011. In January 2012, Petrosyan left It's Showtime. He said they didn't pay him money he was owed from K-1. He became a free agent.

He returned to Italy and won against Abraham Roqueñi in January 2012. In March 2012, he had a highly anticipated fight against Artur Kyshenko. Petrosyan won, showing his skill once more.

Success in Glory (2012–2015)

Petrosyan joined the new Glory organization in 2012. He entered their Lightweight Slam tournament. In May 2012, he won his first fight in the tournament against Fabio Pinca.

In November 2012, he continued in the Glory tournament in Rome, Italy. He won his quarter-final fight when his opponent, Ky Hollenbeck, got a knee injury. He then beat Davit Kiria in the semi-finals. In the final, he faced Robin van Roosmalen. Petrosyan won by unanimous decision, winning his third major tournament.

In March 2013, he had a very aggressive fight. He knocked out Ole Laursen with a high kick. This was his first knockout win in three years. In April 2013, he easily won against Hafid El Boustati.

In November 2013, he fought in the Glory 12: New York - Lightweight World Championship Tournament in New York City, New York. He was knocked out for the first time in his career by Andy Ristie. This ended his amazing six-year, forty-two-fight undefeated streak. Petrosyan later said he broke his hand early in the fight.

After this, he continued to fight and win. In February 2017, he won the W5 world title. In April 2017, he won another fight for Bellator Kickboxing. In October 2017, he won the vacant ISKA Super Welterweight K-1 Rules World Championship. In July 2018, he defeated Chingiz Allazov by unanimous decision.

Joining ONE Championship (since 2018)

In April 2018, Petrosyan signed with ONE Championship. He fought Jo Nattawut in Manila, Philippines, and won. In November, he fought Sorgraw Petchyindee Academy and won again.

In February 2019, he defended his ISKA Super Welterweight title. He was then announced for the ONE Super Series Kickboxing Featherweight Grand Prix.

In May 2019, he fought Phetmorakot Petchyindee Academy. He lost by a split decision, but the result was changed to a no contest because of illegal moves. They had a rematch in July 2019, and Petrosyan won. He then beat Jo Nattawut again in August 2019, this time by knockout. This sent him to the Grand Prix Final.

On October 13, 2019, Petrosyan defeated Samy Sana in the Grand Prix Final. He became the first ONE Kickboxing Featherweight World Grand Prix Champion. He also won a big cash prize of USD$1 million.

In February 2021, Petrosyan fought Davit Kiria again and won. In October 2021, he fought Superbon Banchamek for the first ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Championship. Petrosyan lost by knockout in the second round. This was his first loss since 2013 and only his second knockout loss ever. He broke his jaw in the fight and needed surgery.

After recovering, he fought and won again in April 2022. In May 2024, he challenged Sergio Sanchez for the WAKO Pro K-1 World Super Welterweight title and won.

Giorgio's Championships and Awards

Giorgio Petrosyan has won many championships and awards throughout his career:

• World Association of Kickboxing Organizations
  • 2024 WAKO Pro K-1 World Super Welterweight (69.1 kg) Championship
    • One successful title defense
• ONE Championship
  • 2019 ONE Kickboxing Featherweight (-70 kg/155 lb) World Grand Prix Champion
• World version W5
  • 2017 W5 World -71 kg Champion
• Glory
  • Glory 2012 70kg Slam Tournament Championship
• Hero Legends
  • 2015 Hero Legends -70 kg Championship
• International Sport Karate Association
  • 2017 ISKA K-1 World Super Welterweight (-70 kg/154 lb) Championship
    • Two successful title defence
• Italian Extreme
  • Italian Extreme IV Tournament Championship
• Janus Fight Night
  • JFN 2006 −72 kg/158 lb Tournament Championship
  • JFN 2007 −72 kg/158 lb Tournament Championship
• K-1
  • K-1 World MAX 2009 World Championship Tournament (-70 kg/154 lb) Championship
  • K-1 World MAX 2010 World Championship Tournament (-70 kg/154 lb) Championship
• Kombat League
  • KL World -66.7 kg/147 lb Muay Thai Championship (One time)
    • Three successful title defences
• Italian Muay Thai Association
  • MTA Italian Championship (One time)
  • MTA European -65 kg/143 lb Championship (One time)
    • One successful title defence
• World Kickboxing Network
  • 2009 WKN Intercontinental Welterweight (-69.9 kg/154 lb) Oriental Championship (One time)
    • One successful title defence
• World Muaythai Council
  • 2005 WMC Intercontinental Welterweight (-66.7 kg/147 lb) Championship (One time)

Awards

• LiverKick.com
  • 2012 Fighter of the Year
• BloodyElbow.com
  • 2011 Kickboxer of the Year

Images for kids

• Petrosyan in 2017

See also

In Spanish: Giorgio Petrosyan para niños

• List of male kickboxers
• List of K-1 events