KZ Boxing: WBA Champ Campillo Defends Against Shumenov August 15

WBA light heavyweight champion Gabriel “Chico Guapo” Campillo is a true road warrior who defends his title belt for the first time August 15th against undefeated light heavyweight sensation Beibut Shumenov at Palace of Sports “Kazakhstan” in Astana, Kazakhstan.

The Aug. 15th show will be presented by KZ Event Productions, owned and operated by the Shumenov brothers, Beibut and Chingis, in association with Sampson Boxing, LLC.

Campillo (18-2, 6 KOs) is a slick Spanish southpaw who last month traveled to Argentina and won a 12-round majority decision as a decisive underdog, taking the WBA crown from Argentinean favorite and defending title-holder, Hugo Hernan Garay (32-3).

Fighting 2004 Kazakhstan Olympian Shumenov (8-0, 6 KOs), reigning IBA title-holder, in the Kazak’s home country doesn’t faze Campillo because of his history of success in other fighter’s backyards. He won the European Union super middleweight championship this past March by 12-round decision against a Dane, Lolenga Mock, in Denmark.

“I went to Argentina as an underdog,” Campillo explained. “I was well prepared and I defeated him (Garay) the same way that I am planning to beat Shumenov in his own backyard. I agreed to fight Shumenov because none of he other champions risk their titles and I plan to defend my title against anybody that challenges me. To be a great champion, you have to defeat the best, and Shumenov is one of them.

“I am a pure boxer and my plan is to box Shumenov. I will win by decision but I do not discount the possibility of a late knockout. The only date that I am looking at is August 15th. I will not entertain any future fights now because my mind is set on Beibut Shumenov. All of Spain is behind me and I will not betray my country.”

The 25-year-old Beibut will make history if he defeats Campillo in his ninth pro fight, eight less than the fewest ever for a world light heavyweight champion, Michael Spinks (17). A Kazakhstan native now residing and training in Las Vegas, Beibut is currently rated No. 9 by the WBA.

Two months ago in his hometown of Chimkent, Kazakhstan, he stopped former world champion Byron Mitchell in the fourth round, continuing his ambitious pace that also includes victories against former world champion Montell Griffin and world title challenger Epifanio Mendoza, respectively, by 12 and 10 round decisions.

Two other members of KZ Event Productions, 4-time Uzbekistan National amateur champion Gayrat Ahmedov and Uzbekistan light middleweight Ravshan Hudayaynazarov, will also be showcased on the August 15th card.

Ahmedov (11-0-1, 7 KOs) takes on former Eastern & Central African titlist Douglas “Daggy” Otieno (19-1, 9 KOs) in the 12-round co-feature for the vacant PABA and WBO Pacific light heavyweight titles, recently relinquished by Shumenov. Hudayaynazarov (8-0, 5 KOs), 2007 World Military Games gold medalist, makes his KZ debut against ex-Kenyan title-holder Joseph Joseph “Mish” Miyumo (30-7-5, 17 KOs) in a 6-round bout.

Continuing his comeback is former WBO light welterweight champion DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley (34-11, 20 KOs), who meets “Jessie” James Kimori (11-1, 7 KOs) in an 8-round bout

Also scheduled to fight on the undercard against opponents to be determined are a pair of pro debuting Kazaks, super featherweight Abzal Adambaev and heavyweight Doszhan Ospanov.