David Avanesyan signs with Queensberry Promotions, targets world titles

David Avanesyan has signed with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, as the reigning European welterweight champ takes aim at world title fights.

Avanesyan, 33, is a Russian fighter but based in the United Kingdom, and has had his last two fights in London, wins over Josh Kelly and Liam Taylor, the most recent a second round stoppage on Oct. 2.

Avanesyan (28-3-1, 16 KO) has been on a terrific run of form since his 2018 loss to Egidijus Kavaliauskas, winning five straight, all by stoppage. He’s also a former secondary WBA titleholder, losing that belt to Lamont Peterson in 2017.

But he’s unquestionably fighting as well as he ever has in his career, if not better, and if he’s going to make a move for a real world title shot, the time is now. It does make signing with Queensberry a bit of a curious move, but they do work closely with Top Rank, so Terence Crawford — who faces Shawn Porter on Nov. 20 — could be the ultimate target, and not WBC/IBF titleholder Errol Spence Jr or WBA titlist Yordenis Ugas, both with Premier Boxing Champions.