Boxing News Boxing News
A solid undercard has been announced for the “Fire & Fury” pro boxing card, featuring WBA/IBA Light Heavyweight World Champion Beibut Shumenov in his third title defense, July 29 against two-time world title challenger Danny “The Bronx Bomber” Santiago, on TeleFutura’s“Sólo Boxeo Tecate” broadcast live from South Point Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Other fights scheduled to complete the “Fire & Fury” card are a pair of WBA title bouts, in addition to an entertaining co-feature and two other competitive matches.
Shumenov (11-1, 7 KOs), the 2004 Kazakhstan Olympian who is now fighting out of Las Vegas, set a light heavyweight record for capturing a world title in the fewest career fights, 10, when (Jan. 10, 2010) he won a 12-round decision against Gabriel Campillo in Las Vegas.
Shumenov has successfully defended his WBA/IBA titles twice against No. 1 mandatory challenger Viacheslav Uzelkov (UDEC12) and three-time world champion William Joppy (KO6) last January in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. In his 11 pro fights, Beibut has defeated four world champions (Campillo, Joppy, Byron Mitchell and Montell Griffin) and two world title challengers (Uzelkov and Epifanio Mendoza).
WBA #15 ranked Santiago (31-4-1, 19 KOs), fighting out of Ocala, Florida, is a two-time world title challenger. His most significant victory was a fourth-round technical knockout of Elvir Muriqi (30-1). Santiago was also featured on the third season of The Contender reality television series.
The co-feature between popular Las Vegas super featherweight Lonnie Smith (13-2-2, 9 KOs) and Minnesota-invader Wilton “Pretty Warrior” Hilario (12-2, 9 KOs) is also scheduled to be shown on TeleFutura’s “Sólo Boxeo Tecate”broadcast. Smith, rated No. 13 by the USBA, is riding an eight-fight win streak, while Hilario’s only two losses have been by decisions to Mario Honorio in their NABO title fight and undefeated Cuban Olympian Luis Franco.
Highly-regarded, unbeaten WBA FEDALATIN Welterweight Champion Ravshan Hudaynazarov (14-0, 12 KOs), rated No. 9 by the WBA, defends his title in a 10-round bout against veteran Hector “The Hurricane” Munoz(19-5-1, 12 KOs), the former USNBC titlist.
Undefeated, WBA No. 2-rated light heavyweight contender Gayrat Ahmedov (16-0-1, 12 KOs) defends his WBA International belt against veteran Max “The Fireman” Heyman (24-11-4, 14 KOs) in another 10-rounder.
Hudaynazarov and Ahmedov fight under the KZ Event Productions banner along with Beibut.
Las Vegas fan favorite Ramon Montano(17-9-2, 2 KOs) faces welterweight Juan Suazo (7-4-3, 5 KOs) in a six-round match. Also on the card against an opponent to be determined is Freddie Roach-trained, unbeaten super featherweight prospect Joel Diaz(4-0, 3 KOs) in a four-round bout. All fights and fighters are subject to change.
“Fire& Fury” is promoted by KZ Event Productions (Shumenov and his brother, Chingis, own and operate the Las Vegas-based KZ Event Productions) in association with Golden Boy Promotions, Don Chargin Productions, Guilty Boxing and South Point Hotel Casino and is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate and AT&T. Doors open at 5:30 PM PT, the first bout at 6:00 PM PT and the TeleFutura broadcast begins at 11:30 PM ET / PT (10:30 PM CT).
Tickets, starting at $25, are available for purchase at South Point’s box office, online at www.SouthPointEventCenter.com/tickets.php, or by calling 1.702.797.8055.
Fans at home can also be part of the action by participating in Cinturón Tecate and voting for the fighter in the main event who displays the most character in the ring by sending a text message to 55333. Voting will be open through the end of the weekend.
