The Olympians: Paris 2024. “You need to be ‘literate’ in the ring” - Davit Chaloyan

YEREVAN, JULY 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s mainstay sport of boxing has been experiencing difficulties this Olympic season, as only one of its team’s representatives was able to qualify for the Paris Games. Davit Chaloyan is the guest for this installment of “ARMENPRESS” pre-Olympic program “The Olympians: Paris-2024”.

Davit Chaloyan

Boxer (+92 kg)

26

World Championship Silver Medalist

First participation in the Olympics will be at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games 

Will start competing on July 29

- When did you become interested in boxing?

- I’ve been training since I was 15 years old. I wasn’t interested in any sport before this. Everything happened by chance. My parents decided that I needed to go in for sports, but couldn’t settle on which one it should be. When I entered a boxing hall for the first time, I realized that this was the sport for me. 

- Being 15 is rather old to start learning a sport from scratch. How did you manage to stay in the field? 

- I agree that 15 is quite old, especially when you have big plans. But I think I managed to do it.

- And what is it that you love about boxing?

- I like that there’s a battle, even against yourself, without having to actually “fight” someone. 

- Was there any competition that stood out to you? One that convinced you that this is your calling?

- If I’m being honest, I was initially planning to retire after completing my military service. That was in 2018, when I was still in the army. I had already changed my mind by the time I was done with my service. I ended up coming back because I had missed it, and because my friends kept insisting that I return.

- We all have someone in our field that we look up to. Do you have someone like that?

- For me it’s my senior teammate Hovhannes Bachkov. I think he’s exemplary. He’s given me a lot of pieces of good advice and has helped me in other areas. He was one of the people that believed I could qualify.

- What would you say is the beauty of boxing that seems unperceivable to non-boxers?

- I associate the beauty of boxing with intelligence. You need to be “literate” in the ring. You need to be able to control your emotions and be in control of yourself to win.

- Who do you hear or look for when you enter the ring and during combat?

- My attention is on my trainer, as he knows what instructions to give.

- People say that athletes get where they are by either being talented or hard-working. Would you consider yourself talented or hard-working?

- Talents and skills are useful, but hard work is what matters.

- If you had one chance to go against any boxer in all of the sport’s history, who would you pick? 

- Probably Muhammad Ali.

- Davit, these are your first Olympic Games. What is the mindset that you’re approaching them with?

- I’m trying to be more responsible, as I was the only one to qualify. I’ll do everything to leave the ring at the Olympics with honor. 16 other athletes will be participating in the games, most of whom I’m familiar with.

- To finish off, please continue the following sentence: The Paris Olympic Games for me will be…

- …my very first. 

Author of the project “The Olympians: Paris 2024” - Varvara Hayrapetyan

Photos by Hayk Badalyan