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Turkey's first professional boxer Garbis Zakaryan died on Sunday at the age of 90, the boxing federation said, Anadolu news agency reported, adding the Armenian-Turkish athlete is fondly remembered by his fans as "iron fist".

Zakaryan was born in Istanbul, of Armenian descent, and studied at the local Armenian Esayan school. He began his boxing career in 1944 at the Bosporus Tournament. He became the Istanbul and Turkey champion at 48 kg in 1947 and 1948. He then represented the Turkish National Team for the first time in 1949 against Spain. He became the first Turkish professional boxer in 1951. Zakaryan retired in 1966. He then worked as a boxing trainer including of the European champion Cemal Kamaci.

As the news agency said, Zakaryan will be buried in Istanbul's Sisli Armenian Cemetery on Jan. 29 after a funeral ceremony at the Armenian church.