Mikhail Aloyan

Mikhail Surenovich Aloyan (Михаил Суренович Алоян; born 23 August 1988) is a Russian professional boxer of Yazidi origin, who challenged for the WBO bantamweight title in 2018. As an amateur flyweight, Aloyan won gold medals at the 2010 European Championships, the 2011 and 2013 World Championships, and bronze at the 2009 World Championships and the 2012 Olympics.

Early life
Misha Aloyan was born on 23 August 1988 in the village of Bambakashat, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union (now Armavir Province, Armenia) to a Yazidi family. In 1997, his family moved to Novokuznetsk, Russia. He later moved to Novosibirsk.

Amateur career
At Moscow 2010 he beat Nordine Oubaali, Vincenzo Picardi and Khalid Saeed Yafai to win the European Championships.

At Baku 2011, he added a World title by defeating Rau'shee Warren and edging Welshman Andrew Selby 13–12.

At the 2012 Summer Olympics, he beat Samir Brahimi and Jeyvier Cintron before losing to Nyambayaryn Tögstsogt in the semifinal. He won another medal four years later in Rio 2016, a silver.

On 8 December 2016 he was stripped of the silver medal in 52 kg boxing won at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics after testing positive for tuaminoheptane.

Professional boxing career
Aloyan made his professional debut against Yader Cardoza on 11 May 2017, in a fight for the vacant WBA East Asia super-flyweight title. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Aloyan next faced Marvin Solano for the vacant WBC Silver super-flyweight title on 22 July 2017, and won the fight by unanimous decision. Five months later, on 9 December 2017, Aloyan was scheduled to face Hermogenes Elizabeth Castillo for the vacant WBA International bantamweight title. He won the fight by split decision. Aloyan made his first, and only, WBA International title defense against Alexander Espinoza on 3 February 2018, and won the fight by split decision.

Aloyan vs. Tete
Aloyan participated in the 2018 World Boxing Super Series bantamweight tournament. He was scheduled to face the WBO World bantamweight champion Zolani Tete in the tournament quarterfinals, on 13 October 2018. Tete won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 114-111, 114-111 and 114-110. Both fighters were deducted a point for excessive holding, Tete in the eleventh and Aloyan in the twelfth round.

Aloyan vs. Batista
Aloyan was scheduled to face Ronal Batista for the inaugural WBA Gold super-flyweight title on 10 December 2019. Batista was ranked #14 by the WBA at super flyweight. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Aloyan vs. Hryshchuk
He made his first WBA Gold title defense against Oleksandr Hryshchuk on 4 June 2021. Hryshchuk retired from the bout at the end of the eight round.

Aloyan vs. Yohana
Aloyan faced Mchanja Yohana on 22 July 2021. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges awarding him a 99-91 scorecard.

On 30 January 2022, Aloyan held a press conference, during which he announced he would retire after his next fight.

Aloyan vs. Barreto
On 8 February, it was announced that Aloyan would face David Barreto in his farewell fight, on 21 February 2022. Aloyan won the fight by majority decision.

Personal life
Aloyan married his wife Greta, a third-year student of the Faculty of Dentistry at Novosibirsk State Medical University, on 15 October 2011. The ceremony took place at the Novosibirsk Wedding Palace.

In 2012, he officially changed his first name Misha to Mikhail.