Hovhannesyan victorious via fifth-round knockout

GLENDALE — In front of perhaps the most important crowd he’s ever fought before, Art “Lionheart” Hovhannesyan turned in one the most impressive performances of his career.

The Glendale boxer floored Baudel Cardenas three times on Thursday night, the final knockdown eliciting a referee stoppage, as Hovhannesyan claimed a technical knockout victory in the fifth round of a scheduled six-round lightweight bout at Club Nokia in Los Angeles as part of a Golden Boy Promotions card.

“He improves every fight,” said Hovhannesyan’s trainer, Edmond Tarverdyan. “He’s more confident.

“He improves day by day.”

The win was the seventh in a row for Hovhannesyan (9-0-1, 4 KOs) and the second straight via knockout. Cardenas fell to 18-19-2.

The Mexican fighter was floored by a Hovhannesyan left hook in the closing seconds of the fourth round and barely beat the count.

In the deciding fifth round, Hovhannesyan put Cardenas to the canvas with a jab and then for a third and final time with another hook, Tarverdyan said.

“He was a durable guy,” said Tarverdyan of Cardenas. “Art’s got the power.”

And he displayed that power, along with improved boxing skills, in front of Golden Boy head Oscar de la Hoya, as well as top fighters and Golden Boy luminaries Bernard Hopkins and Shane Mosley.

“It was great,” Tarverdyan said. “They were all very happy.

“I’m very happy, they really want us back.”

As for when that could be, Tarverdyan is hoping for as early as Oct. 10 when Golden Boy returns with another card in Los Angeles at the Nokia Theatre.

Hovhannesyan, 27, had at least three prior fights fall through in July, August and earlier this month, as opponents have been hard to find for a fighter seen by many as too good for up-and-comers and not quite a contender just yet.

“People don’t want to fight him,” Tarverdyan said. “But if you have a strong promotion like Golden Boy behind you, they get you fights.”