Philippines, 12 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


'LIKE DURAN' - Manny Robles on Bachkov's style and Roach praise

PhilBoxing.com




LONDON, NOVEMBER 30 – The ferocious Hovhannes Bachkov left a trail of destruction in his wake after a series of devastating sparring sessions, new coach Manny Robles has revealed.

And since the Olympic medallist has moved to California to train, word has quickly spread about the savage super lightweight, with Freddie Roach among his new army of fans.

Backhov, 29, returns to the ring on Friday night, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in a 10 round contest against Mexico’s Marcos Gonzalez Barraza.

The double-European Amateur Championships gold medallist will go 4-0 with a win and plans to use 2023 to move into world title contention at 140lbs.

Robles, one of the world’s leading trainers, insists there is plenty for Bachkov to work on but can’t hide his excitement about a fighter who, he says, has a style reminiscent of the great Roberto Duran.

"We’ve done a lot of sparring back in Los Angeles, he must have sparred 10 different guys and he would take them out one at a time!” Robles told Probellum.com.

“I was like: 'Man, I’ve got to step it up and try to find you tougher sparring', because the guys that I was putting him up against were not lasting, he was knocking them out.

“There came a point where I had to put him in with 147lbs and 154lbs boxers. He was like: 'Why are you doing this to me?!' I said: ‘Because everybody in your weight, you're knocking them out!’. He pretty much ran through everybody.

“So, I would have to start visiting different gyms in Southern California. For one, Freddie Roach at the Wild Card, got a chance to see Bachkov. I have a great relationship with Freddie, and he said to me: "Where did you find this guy? This guy's good!"

Robles is trying to improve Bachkov’s ability to cut off the ring, his lateral movement and counterpunching – “I want to see how he listens to me on Friday night” - but says there is a reason why the Armenian has already achieved so much.

“He's a very physical fighter, who doesn't take a step back,” he said.

“If I had to compare him to someone, stylistically - and I know this is big - but I would say, Roberto Duran.

“Obviously, that's a lot to say, especially when we speak of someone like Roberto Duran, who accomplished so much in boxing, but as far as styles go, he's right there.

“He's just aggressive, strong and very physical and then he'll hunt you down. And he'll systematically break you down until you can no longer continue.

“He's definitely the type of fighter that you're not going to get off your back that easy. He's going to be on you. He does a great job going to the body. He's very meticulous and he doesn't waste a lot of punches.”

Bachkov (3-0), who dipped back into the amateurs during the summer, to win gold at the European Amateur Championships, has previously been ranked inside the WBA’s top 15.

Robles is excited about the big fights that lay ahead in the super lightweight division but has urged a degree of caution about moving Bachkov too quickly towards world title fights.

“The division is stacked with talent and there are a lot of great fighters in the weight class,” Robles added.

“Regis Prograis just beat Jose Zepeda, in a great fight, a great fight for the fans, for boxing, for the sport.

“You've got Teofimo Lopez at 140 as well, and that would be a great fight.

“Styles make fights, so with Regis, it would be an incredible fight. And with Teofimo Lopez, I believe, it would be an incredible fight as well, given the opportunity. But we're a few fights away from that.

“He only has three professional fights, but he has had a great amateur career and that's why he's fighting 10 rounds, but we just have to be careful with the way we match him up and who we fight him against. Styles make fights. And then when I feel that he's ready to fight the best fighters out there, then we'll go ahead and make a move.”

To keep up to date with the latest news on Williamson sign up to our newsletter or follow Probellum on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.   

You can also follow our official news, results, and information account, Probellum News, on Twitter.  




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
    , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • 4 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights”
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN
    , Tue, 08 Jul 2025
  • UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA
    , Mon, 07 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.