Hambardzumyan won a gold medal at the 2004 Junior World Amateur Boxing Championships in Jeju.

He made it to the quarterfinals at the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships, guaranteeing himself participation in the upcoming Olympics.

[3] Hambardzumyan lost in his first match at the 2008 Summer Olympics to eventual gold medalist Manuel Félix Díaz.

He defeated Gyula Káté, who was injured in the first round of the match and was removed from the competition by the doctor, in the finals.

Hambardzumyan, along with Hovhannes Danielyan, became the first boxers from the independent Republic of Armenia to become European Champions.