Belgium’s strength coach Edgar Khanoyan shapes Miko Khatchatryan’s rise and resilience against world champion Joe Cordina

Photo courtesy of Edgar Khanoyan

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BoxRec records highlight Miko Khatchatryan’s rise as one of Belgium’s promising super‑featherweights, underscored by his string of victories and regional title belts. Behind his ascent is a quiet architect: Edgar Khanoyan, a Belgian strength and conditioning coach whose scientific approach to training has helped his fighters build championship‑level stamina and power. Though Khatchatryan ultimately suffered his first professional defeat against Welsh star Joe Cordina in 2021, the bout revealed the resilience and preparation forged under Khanoyan’s mentorship, drawing attention to the coach who blends sports science with boxing tradition.

Interviewer: You began your career as a boxer. How did that experience inform your transition into coaching?

Edgar Khanoyan: I started boxing in 2013, and stepping into the ring gave me a deep appreciation for the sport’s technical and mental demands. Competing taught me the importance of discipline and focus, but I soon realized my true passion was helping others unlock their potential. By 2019, I shifted to coaching full‑time and became head of physical preparation for professional fighters. The move allowed me to apply everything I’d learned in my own training while studying sports physiology and biomechanics to better serve my athletes.

Interviewer: What inspired you to pursue a degree in sport coaching?

Edgar Khanoyan: Science matters in sport. In 2020, I earned a bachelor’s degree in sport coaching to deepen my knowledge of physiology, biomechanics, and periodization. That education gave me the tools to design programs based on data rather than guesswork. I wanted to create evidence‑based training plans that kept fighters healthy and optimized their peak performances.

Interviewer: Describe the philosophy behind EK Performance.

Edgar Khanoyan: EK Performance blends modern sports science with boxing’s unique demands. Each athlete’s plan is built around their style, strengths, and fight calendar. We focus on long‑term development and injury prevention. Power, endurance, speed, and recovery are all trained systematically. The goal isn’t just winning the next fight; it’s building careers that last.

Interviewer: How did you adapt your method for Miko Khatchatryan?

Edgar Khanoyan: Miko is a disciplined, explosive fighter, so we focused on enhancing his natural strengths while developing endurance to sustain his power. We periodized his strength blocks and incorporated plyometric circuits to increase explosiveness, while using sport‑specific interval training to improve his aerobic base. We also emphasized recovery and injury prevention; staying healthy allowed him to fight frequently and perform consistently.

Interviewer: Miko faced Joe Cordina for the WBA Continental title in Liverpool in December 2021. What do you recall about the preparation?

Edgar Khanoyan: It was a short-notice fight, so Miko didn’t have a full training camp. Our challenge was to prepare him as much as possible in a short time. We condensed the work into focused, high-intensity sessions, prioritizing conditioning maintenance, sharpness, and specific tactics to counter Cordina’s rhythm. Sparring was purposeful and controlled, with shorter rounds and targeted scenarios. On fight night, Miko showed heart and professionalism, even though he lost a unanimous decision.

Interviewer: What did you learn from that experience?

Edgar Khanoyan: The fight reinforced that conditioning can keep you competitive against elite opposition. Cordina captured the regional belt and remained undefeated, but our work showed that a young fighter from Belgium could go ten hard rounds with a future world champion and give him a tough test. It made me even more determined to refine our methods and ensure our athletes close the gap at the highest level.

Interviewer: How do you teach mental resilience?

Edgar Khanoyan: I tell my fighters that talent means nothing without discipline, and progress means nothing without patience. The body follows the mind; if you show up on days when you feel weak and still do the work with purpose, you build resilience. I’ve seen champions lose everything and rebuild from zero, and underdogs rise because they refused to quit. Those stories remind me to keep my athletes grounded and focused on long‑term growth.

Interviewer: What are the biggest challenges you face as a coach?

Edgar Khanoyan: Every fight camp is a challenge. Sometimes, athletes develop pains or minor injuries near fight week because of the intense workload. My job is to quickly strengthen the affected areas and adjust the program so that they can still peak on the night without risking serious injury. It’s a delicate balance between pushing limits and protecting longevity.

Interviewer: Beyond Miko, you also coach Hovhannes Martirosyan and work with the Belgian Olympic boxing team. How does that diversify your perspective?

Edgar Khanoyan: Working with athletes across weight classes and experience levels keeps me adaptable. Each fighter teaches me something new: Hovhannes is known for his explosiveness and endurance, which requires a slightly different balance of anaerobic and aerobic training. Collaborating with national team members like Rasul Tisayev and Arigon Avdimetaj exposes me to international coaching styles and broadens my understanding of what works at the amateur and professional levels.

Interviewer: Where do you see your coaching career heading?

Edgar Khanoyan: My dream is to establish a high‑performance center that combines scientific research with the art of boxing. I want athletes, coaches, and scientists from around the world to collaborate and push the boundaries of human performance. Beyond titles, I hope to mentor the next generation of coaches and create systems that help fighters develop fully, physically, mentally, and ethically.

Recently, Khanoyan has also begun mentoring and advising a new physical trainer entering the field, guiding him through program design, athlete assessment, and the transition from theory to hands-on coaching. For Edgar, sharing knowledge is part of building a stronger future for Belgian boxing, not only through world-level athletes, but also by helping develop the next generation of coaches.

Edgar Khanoyan’s influence goes far beyond physical conditioning drills. His scientifically grounded programs and emphasis on mental resilience have helped Belgian boxers like Miko Khatchatryan compete on the world stage. The close contest with Joe Cordina highlighted not just Khatchatryan’s toughness but the training culture Khanoyan has nurtured. As more fighters adopt his methods, the quiet coach from Belgium is shaping a new standard of preparation, one rooted in patience, science, and a belief that greatness is built away from the spotlight. For athletes and fans alike, Khanoyan’s work offers a reminder that success comes from a blend of dedication, knowledge, and human connection.