Assyrian-Armenian Olympic Boxer: Emmanuel Agassi

Emmanuel Agassi was born on December 25, 1930 in Salmas, Iran, a popular birthplace for Assyrians around the area. Agassi’s mother, Noonia, was born in Turkish Armenia whereas his father, David was an Assyrian from Kiev. During his time in Iran, Agassi worked on his athleticism and later represented Iran at the Summer Olympics in 1948, and in 1952, Agassi then ended up moving to Chicago, Illinois in the same year with his brother.

 

Throughout his time in Chicago, Agassi ended up changing his name to “Mike” and attended Roosevelt University. Below are attached two images of his time at the university.

 

Edwin Turner coaching sophomore Emanuel Agassi in gymnastics

 

The pictures were taken in 1957.

The 2  images above is the rightful property of  The Roosevelt University Archives 

 

After getting married and having two children, Agassi picked up a job at a hotel in Las Vegas through a friend, where he later had two more kids, one of them being Former World Champion Tennis Player, Andre Agassi.

 

Emanual Agassi then passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 24, 2021

 

Written & Published by Brian Banyamin

 

Bibliography:

Cobello, Dominic; Agassi, Mike (2004). The Agassi Story. Toronto: ECW Press. pp. 12–14. ISBN 1-55022-656-8. Retrieved May 04, 2022.

Cobello, Dominic; Agassi, Mike (2004). The Agassi Story. Toronto: ECW Press. pp. 12–14. ISBN 1-55022-656-8. Retrieved May 09 22, 2022

Nahigian, Frank. “Only in America? An Interview with Mike Agassi”. The Armenian Weekly. Retrieved May 9, 2022.

“Iran Olympic Tradition”. NBCOlympics.com. NBC Universal. 2008. Archived from the original on May 23, 2009. Retrieved May 09, 2022.

Dominic Cobello; Mike Agassi; Kate Shoup Welsh (October 2008). The Agassi Story. ECW Press. pp. 28–. ISBN 978-1-55490-362-7.

Cobello, Dominic; Agassi, Mike (2004). The Agassi Story. Toronto: ECW Press. p. 64. ISBN 1-55022-656-8. Retrieved May 09, 2022.