Get To Know: Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan
Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan (85-2-2, 2 NC) is preparing to be a part of ONE Championship history.
On Friday, 20 April, the promotion will stage its next martial arts spectacle ONE: HEROES OF HONOR at the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines. The card will feature the official debut of the ONE Super Series, as Petrosyan squares off against “Smokin” Jo Nattawut (66-6-2) in the night’s co-main event.
Petrosyan, an Armenian-bred competitor who has been based in Italy since his early teens, has long been considered one of the world’s best strikers. The 32-year-old is a highly decorated athlete who has competed all over the planet, and now finds himself on the global stage for martial arts.
Get to know a little bit more about “The Doctor” before his high profile showdown in Manila.
He Had A Turbulent Childhood
Early life in his homeland of Armenia brings back fond memories for Petrosyan, even though things would eventually get tough. He lived with his parents and siblings, including his younger brother Armen, who is also a kickboxing champion.
“Life was fine. There were no big problems,” he offers.
However, when Armenia became a republic, and war broke out with neighboring Azerbaijan, the ensuing chaos forced the family to flee to Italy. At 13, Petrosyan, his father, and his older brother found their way to Europe to set up life for their family, and they were later joined by his mother and two younger siblings.
It was tumultuous at first, but eventually the family settled into life in their new home. Ever since then, they have thrived, with the Petrosyan name shining brightly throughout Italy due to the sporting success of both Giorgio and Armen.
He Rose Up From Homelessness
The Petrosyans may have sought refuge in Italy, but they first arrived in the European country without a place to live, nor did they know a single soul. As a result, Giorgio, his father, and his older brother were forced to sleep in train stations, and sometimes on the streets.
Fortunately, things quickly looked up, as a charitable organization called Caritas saw their plight. The charity housed the family, and helped them integrate into Italy by learning the language, and finding work.
“Life got better thanks to Caritas,” says Petrosyan, knowing life could have turned out very much differently had they not been offered some initial support.
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He Fell In Love With Muay Thai
It was in Northern Italy where “The Doctor” found his passion for Muay Thai. Though he had been a fan of martial arts through Bruce Lee and Jean–Claude Van Damme movies from his early childhood, he had never formally trained, and this was his opportunity to get started.
At 14, he stepped into a gym, and never looked back. He was instantly hooked – not just by the techniques and competition, but by the way of life.
“I just loved the martial arts idea,” he explains. “Like the famous movies, going from the very first push-up, and into the world of competition.”
From the age of 16, he began competing. He picked up his first national title a year later, and then went on to win almost every accolade the sport had to offer.
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He Is A Monumental Striker
Adversity was never anything new to Petrosyan, so martial arts competition came quite naturally to him. In 2003, just one year after he first graced in the ring, he became a national champion. By 2004, he was a European champion, and in 2006, he claimed his first world title.
Since then, “The Doctor” has been one of the striking world’s most consistent and elite performers, with a monumental 42-bout win streak that spanned six years, accolades including two K-1 World Max Championships, and numerous ‘Athlete of the Year’ awards throughout the globe.
The Armenian has much more he wants to achieve in the sport, and many more people he wants to inspire, so get ready as he brings his best to ONE: HEROES OF HONOR and starts fulfilling those goals.
