Garbis Zakaryan

Garbis Zakaryan, nicknamed Büyük Garbis ( German Big Garbis; born June 2, 1930 in Istanbul, Turkey), is a former Turkish and European champions in the welterweight division. He was the first Turkish professional boxer.

Life

Zakaryan is of Armenian descent and studied at the local Armenian Esayan School in Istanbul. His father was unable to work because of his poor health and his mother secured by knitting the entire maintenance of the family. He left school after the 5th grade and began working as a newspaper vendor. His boxing career he began in 1944 with the participation in Turnuvası Boğaziçi ( Bosphorus Tournament). He was then in 1947 and 1948 in Istanbul champion with a fighting weight of 48 kg. In 1949 he represented the first time Turkey against Spain. In 1951, he became the first professional boxer Turkey.

Zakaryan lost his European title for the first time in March 1957. 1964 he became a master of the entire Middle East. Zakaryan finished his career in 1966. He has since worked as a boxing trainer, including with the European Champion Cemal Kamaci.