Former Kazakhstan Olympian Beibut Shumenov (7-0, 5 KOs), fresh off of his impressive 10-round decision victory against Columbian knockout artist Epifanio “Diamente” Mendoza (28-6-1, 24 KOs), arguably is the most ambitious, fastest-rising prospect in boxing.
Fighting only 13 months as a professional unbeaten light heavyweight Shumenov has already captured three championship belts – WBC Asian Boxing Council, WBO Asia Pacific and PABA. His most defining victory to date was a one-sided victory by 12-round decision (120-107, 120-108, 120-108) against former WBC title-holder Montell “Ice” Griffin (50-8, 30 KOs) this past August in Kazakhstan.
Shumenov, 25, was recently named the WBC Asian Boxing Council Organization’s 2008 Boxer of the Year. Beibut headlined against Mendoza in his new promotional company’s (KZ Event Productions) U.S. debut December 13th in Bellevue, Washington.
“I’m enjoying boxing but it’s more of a hobby than career for me,” Shumenov explained. “I see myself going another route in the future. I want to challenge myself mentally, as a promoter, like I have physically as a boxer. I plan to expand my boxing company, KZ Event Productions, Inc., and promote boxing as a businessman. I enjoy organizing fights and building my own career.”
In his previous two fights, Mendoza lost to former world champion Jeff Lacy by controversial decision, as well as to Chad Dawson for the WBC light heavyweight title. Beibut easily handled the veteran Mendoza, who was a late replacement for former world champion Kelvin Davis, by scores of 100-90, 98-92 and 97-93.
“When Davis pulled out of the fight only a few days before the show,” Shumenov said, “I was ready to cancel the show rather than fight just any opponent. I was offered a 5-0 guy with three knockouts. No offense to him but I’d already beaten Montell Griffin, (Lavell) Finger, (Donnell) Wiggins and (Shannon) Miller. I didn’t want to go backwards. I was either going to fight somebody with a good record, well-known name or title, or I wasn’t going to fight at all. As soon as I realized that Mendoza had just fought Lacy and Dawson, I accepted the fight, and I want to thank Mendoza for taking the fight on such short notice. He’s a tough guy who came to win.
“I haven’t reached my limit in terms of mastering my skills, but I am ready now to fight any of the top light heavyweights in the world such as Joe Calzaghe, Bernard Hopkins, Chad Dawson, Zsolt Erdie, Roy Jones, Jr., Julio Cesar Gonzalez, Hugo Garay or Andrian Diaconu. I am working hard to improve my mastership and, when I reach the highest levels of my skills, I’d like to demonstrate it against all of the world’s best fighters.”
Already rated No. 15 by the WBO, Shumenov was highly-touted in the 2004 Olympics, winning his opening bout against Polish representative Aleksy Kuziemsky (presently 16-0 as a pro prospect), 37-22. But hampered by a hand injury, Beibut was defeated in the round of 16 by Turkey’s Ihsan Yildorim Tarham, 27-19, in the same light heavyweight division in which Andre Ward won a gold medal for the United States.
There’s no slowing down the confident Beibut, who is like an old-time fighter who doesn’t want easy opponents to build-up his record. His fourth pro fight was a scheduled 12-round title fight against Wiggins. In his seventh bout Beibut looked very good against a much more experienced, former world title challenger Mendoza. Shumenov just wants to fight the best and position himself for a world title shot in late 2009 or early 2010.
The KZ Event Productions website (www.kzeventproductions.com) with soon be launched with additional information about Beibut Shumenov and his new promotional company.
Zambrano, Bogar and Beale Added to 1/22 Darwish Brothers Boxing Show
East Rutherford, NJ- The Darwish Brothers Knockout Promotions card is quickly taking shape, enhanced by the additions of featherweight Carlos Zambrano of Paterson, light-welterweight Rashad Bogar of Newark and heavyweight Tyyab Beale of Jersey City.
Archak Termeliksetian, Noriko Kariya, Victor Valenzuela and Elvin Sanchez will also be in action on “Knockout Night at the Meadowlands”, which takes place January 22, 2009 at the Meadowlands Sheraton Hotel in East Rutherford, NJ.
“I’m very excited about this card,” says Wally Darwish. “These prospects have all proven their talent in the amateurs and are blossoming into future world champions. They are destined to make New Jersey proud.”
These fighters will be in attendance on Monday, December 29th at the Hackensack Police Athletic League at 7:30 PM for the taping of Knockout TV. Knockout TV airs every Wednesday night at 10 PM on NJ/NY Cablevision channel 76. The Hackensack PAL is located at 284 Hackensack Avenue in Hackensack, NJ. The taping is open to the public.
Tickets, priced $100 for Ringside and $50 for Reserved, are on sale now and moving fast. For more information on Knockout Promotions, visit http://www.darwishbrothers.com . For ticket purchase information and other inquiries, call (973) 339-9611. The Sheraton Hotel is located at 2 Meadowlands Plaza in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
IVAN POPOCA VS. DANIEL GARCIA SET FOR JANUARY 23RD IN CICERO
Forget the cold weather and the snow in Chicago. Skip the holidays. Junior welterweight prospect Ivan Popoca is too focused on the task at hand to pay much attention to either.
Preparing for his next fight on Friday, January 23rd, the undefeated junior welterweight hasn’t stopped training through the holidays. Fighting five times in 2008, Popoca’s last two bouts have ended in crushing first round knockouts, further cementing his status for Chicago fight fans as must-see events.
“For me, 2009 is going to be a huge year, I want to set the tone on January 23rd and move forward quickly from there. Six to eight fights in 2009 and a move up to the world rankings” said the confident 26 year old.
Training at Chicago ’s JABB Boxing Gym for the last few years, Popoca’s name has become synonymous with its growing clientele of pros and amateurs.
“In the last six months, he’s really become the boss here. He’s here to train everyday without fail and he’ll spar anyone. We had some tough Russian professionals here last month and Ivan was the first one to challenge them. Same with many other pros who are more experienced, he’s fearless and will challenge anyone” said gym owner Dominic Pesoli, also President of 8 Count Productions, which handles Popoca.
Known for his all out wars in the gym, Popoca typically stops traffic in the gym as other fighters halt their workouts to catch a glimpse of the most talked about prospect in the Chicagoland area.
Continued Pesoli, “He sets the tone here, other fighters, amateur and pro know this is serious business when they see how hard he works. He loves to spar and he’s got a bit of a street fighter mentality which works to his advantage in the ring.”
Said trainer Mike Garcia, “Ivan’s one of the hardest working guys I’ve ever been around. He’s really come around and turned the corner in the last year and he’s become much smarter to go along with his aggressiveness. 2009 could be a terrific year for him. Boxing fans in Chicago want to see action packed fights and that’s what Ivan gives them, every time out.”
Popoca, 8-0-1 (7KO’s), will face Houston ’s Daniel Garcia at Cicero Stadium as part of “NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION”, an evening of world class professional boxing presented by Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions. The equally heavy handed Garcia brings a record of 9-5-1 (7KO’s), into the scheduled six rounder against Popoca.
Advance tickets, starting at $30, can be obtained in advance by calling the 8 Count Productions office at 312-226-5800. Cicero Stadium is located at 1909 S. Laramie in Cicero . Doors on the evening of the event will open at 7pm with the first bell at 8pm.
“NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION” is presented along with Miller Lite, TCF Bank, Jack Daniels and EL Jimador Tequila.
TCF is a Wayzata, Minnesota-based national financial holding company with $16.4 billion in total assets. The company has 453 banking offices in Minnesota , Illinois , Michigan , Colorado , Wisconsin , Indiana and Arizona , providing retail and commercial banking services, and investments and insurance products. TCF also conducts leasing and equipment finance business in all 50 states.
8 Count Productions was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland. In 2003, Pesoli along with former featherweight contender Mike Garcia opened JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000 square foot venue dedicated to the finest Chicagoland boxers of all talent levels.
To view the seating chart and poster for this event or for more information on 8 Count Productions and JABB Boxing Gym, please visit www.8countproductions.com and www.jabbboxing.com