Geghard Movsisian launches qualification process to join Holland’s Olympic team

January 31, 2011 - 18:54 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Dutch-Armenian mixed martial artist Gegard Mousasi (Geghard Movsisian) has launched a qualification process to join Holland’s boxing team to participate in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Gegard Mousasi's manager Apy Echteld said that the achievements in boxing may only contribute to Mousasi’s career in mixed martial arts, Yerkramas newspaper reported.

Besides, the sportsman will rival Mike Kyle as part of Strikeforce mixed martial art tournament on April 9.

Mousasi was born in Tehran, Iran, to ethnic Armenian parents during the Iran-Iraq War. At the age of 4, Mousasi and his family relocated to Leiden, Netherlands, where he finished grade school before developing an interest in martial arts. He started practicing Judo at the age of 8 and later boxing at age 15; twelve months later he became the amateur boxing champion of the Netherlands. He then switched to kickboxing and then eventually to mixed martial arts.