‘I Fight For Them’ – Marat Grigorian On Why Giving Back To His Parents Is His Greatest Purpose In Life

Three-time Kickboxing World Champion Marat Grigorian has built one of the most decorated careers in the sport’s history, and every single part of it belongs to his parents. The 34-year-old Armenian striker returns to action against Japanese standout Kaito Ono in a heated featherweight kickboxing showdown at ONE SAMURAI 1 , which emanates live from Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, April 29. View this post on Instagram Samvel and Amalya raised three older girls and their kickboxing son in Talin, Armenia, with very little and gave their children everything they had.

His dad worked as a chef, while his mom was a hairdresser. The family uprooted twice in search of something better – first to Germany, then back to Armenia when things fell apart, and then finally to Antwerp, Belgium, when Grigorian was 9. In those early years in Belgium, his parents worked five to six jobs a day.

Some mornings, there was only tea and bread on the table. Grigorian has never forgotten his father and mother’s sacrifices , and all that matters to him now is to ensure he gives back to them with the same dedication and discipline instilled in him from a young age: “I’m determined to give my parents the life they deserve. That’s the only reason that keeps pushing me to do better in my career.

We went through a lot of difficult times, a difficult life. I know they did so much for me, and now it’s my time to do everything possible for them. “I just want to make them happy and to make their dreams come true as they get older.