Few sports offer such inspiring stories as boxing. The rise of a young girl from a small Armenian village to become Annie “The Lioness” Aroyan is the perfect example.

“My mother borrowed money from the neighbors and she gave it to me saying: ‘You have to go and pay for the training’”, she says. “I promised myself not to give up. Many difficult things happen in life, but I keep looking forward.

On Saturday, March 12, the 22-year-old super bantamweight will step into the ring at the Grand Ballroom at the Conrad Hotel in Dubai to take on Saranyaphong Theinthong of Thailand, in ‘Countdown to the Middle East Crown – Boxing Series 3’. .

The event, promoted by DJMC Events and Team Roshan Sports Promotion, also features a clash between India’s Urvashi Singh and Tanzania’s Halima Vunjabei for the vacant Women’s International Boxing Association World Super Bantam belt, in the first-ever bout for the women’s world title in the UAE. .

It was a quick rise for someone who only started boxing at the age of 15.

“Before, in 2008, I started doing karate,” Aroyan said from his training base at the Real Boxing Only gym in Dubai. “I did five years and I was champion of Armenia. Then the gymnasium in our village was closed. So I had to go to another city to continue my karate training.

“There they had karate and boxing training side by side. I felt closer to boxing, so I said I wanted to switch to boxing. My mother said, ‘Why? you are already a blue belt.’ But I said no, I can feel that in boxing I can grow more.

It didn’t take long for him to establish himself on the amateur boxing scene in his country.

“In 2015, after six months, I became Armenia’s boxing champion. So I moved to the national team. And from there, I started to think that I was going to reach a high level because even my parents and my trainers said: ‘You are made for boxing, you have long arms, you are tall for your weight’, and I have good power.

“I participated in Bulgaria in 2017 and in 2019 I participated in the World Championship in Russia. I was triple champion of Armenia, junior and young in 2015, 2016 and 2017.”

None of this would have happened without the support and faith of his family, Aroyan said.

“No matter what I say, they never say no. I’m not from a rich family and sometimes, to be honest, we don’t have any money.

“My mum is the biggest supporter and she’s the reason I’m in Dubai and boxing,” she said. “I came here to Dubai and I trained here for a few days. And she said, stay here and do your life. I thank my mother for her efforts and support. She always supported me, and my father , my brother always supported me too.

The hard work and the sacrifices paid off. Aroyan amassed over 70 amateur fights before turning professional.

Like other boxers from her country, she had to go abroad before taking the plunge, settling in Dubai in 2019.

“In Armenia, there was no professional boxing. I always looked at our boxers like Arthur Abraham, Vic Darchinyan, they were never amateurs, they went directly to professionals. In Armenia, the government does not support not much boxing. So I told myself that I would lose years by remaining an amateur. I decided to become a professional. I don’t know why, but I feel much better as a professional.

She has a record of six wins from seven professional fights, and in April 2019 she fought what is to date her favorite fight, against Thai boxer Nongnun Sor Praithong in Dubai.

“It was my fourth fight, at Emirates Golf Club, the opponent was very good and it was a 50/50 fight,” Aroyan said. “But I won in four sets, and I won 48-36. It was very tough.”

She hasn’t fought since 2019, and she wants to make up for lost time.

“Because of COVID and a hand injury, I was in Armenia, but my coach and I are now working hard and I’m ready for the March 12 fight.

“I worked with my trainer Waleed Din. We did weight training, we had a good workout, it was a good camp.

Next Saturday, she fights six rounds of two minutes each against Theinthong in a fight that could propel her towards her next goal in boxing.

“My goal is always to take a step forward, and my next step is a title fight,” Aroyan said, a goal she could achieve in May. “I want to be the best in my weight category, I want to be world champion. I am 22 years old, and when I see other boxers, who are 30, 35, 38 years old, they all tell me ‘you have a bright future’, they all see a future champion.

She has ambitions beyond becoming a champion and, unsurprisingly, they include returning to her roots in Armenia.

“My dream is to be world champion, of course, and to support my family,” she said. “After I finish boxing, I want to be a promoter, I want to help the children of my country to become professional.”