KZ Event Boxing: Roman Karmazin Added To May 9 Fight Card

Russian middleweight Roman “Made In Hell” Karmazin will fight at home in Asia for the first time in seven years, May 9, on a show presented by KZ Event Productions, Inc., outdoors at Khadjimukan Stadium in Chimkent, Kazakhstan.

World-rated light heavyweight contender Beibut Shumenov headlines the star-studded show in his hometown against former IBF super middleweight champion Alejandro “Naco” Berrio in the12 round main event for the vacant IBA light heavyweight championship, as well as Shumenov’s WBO Asia Pacific, WBC Asian Boxing Council and PABA Interim titles.

Karmazin, 38-3-1 (24), born in Kuznetsk, Russia, has been residing the past few years in Hollywood, CA, where works out of the famed World Card Gym in Los Angeles and is trained by Freddie Roach.

In 1991, Roman went to Kazakhstan to serve in the military and he was allowed to workout at in a gym in Uralsk under trainer Uahasov Kvanysh. Two years later, Roman was discharged and Kvanysh offered him an opportunity to remain training in Uralsk.

Impressed by what he had been taught, Karmazin agreed and he lived in Uralsk, marrying a year later and his son, Oleg, was born there in 1995. Oleg still lives and studies in Uralsk. Roman, however, left on the advisement of his trainer in 1995 to train in St. Petersburg, Russia due to lack of sufficient sparring partners.

“I am very excited to be going back to Kazakhstan to fight on the Shumenov’s card,” Roman remarked. “I truly appreciate what Beibut and Chingis are doing to support the sport of boxing in Kazakhstan and all around the world. I hope to put on a great performance that will lead to a world title shot at the end of this year.”

A former European light middleweight champion, Karmazin captured the I BF light middleweight title in 2005, winning a unanimous 12 round decision against Kassim Ouma. Roman’s most notable victims over the years also include former world champions Alejandro Garcia and Bronco McKart, as well as Antwun Echols, and James Obede Toney.

In his last action, Roman successfully defended the NABF belt that he won last year by defeating McKart, stopping three-time world title challenger Echols in the seventh round of their March 21 fight at the Playboy Mansion. Karmazin, rated No. 5 by the IBF and No. 10 by the WBC, will fight an opponent to be determined May 9 in the 10-round co-feature.

Also fighting on the card is former WBO light welterweight title-holder DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley (33-11, 19 KOs) and 4-time Uzbekistan National amateur champion Gayrat Ahmedov (10-0-1, 6 KOs), who will be making his KZ Event debut, in a pair of 8-round bouts against opponents to be determined.

“We’re excited to add a great fighter such as Roman Karmazin on our card,” promoter Chingis Shumenov said. “He’s the third former world champion, joining Berrio and Corley, fighting on the May 9th show. Roman is on his way to becoming world champion once again. He lived in Kazakhstan and fans certainly will give him a royal welcome home.

“KZ Event Productions is actively pursuing new talent to sign and everyone will be impressed by the newest member of our growing stable, unbeaten Gayrat Ahmedov. The May 9th show will be taped live and broadcast at a later date in North America. This summer we plan on promoting a show in the United States.”

2004 Kazakhstan Olympian sensation Beibut Shumenov (7-0, 5 KOs), the 2008 WBC Asian Boxing Council Organization’s Boxer of the Year, is already rated No. 8 by the WBA, No. 9 by the WBO and No. 16 by the WBC. His most notable win 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) last August in Kazakhstan.

Colombian knockout artist Berrio (28-5, 27 KOs) has been the distance only once in 33 pro fights, knocking out 27 of his 28 victims, highlighted by two victories against Robert Stiegltiz, once for the IBF super middleweight title, along with wins versus Syd Vanderpool and Yusaf Mack.

Also scheduled to fight May 9 on the undercard is heavyweight “Wreckless” Willie Chapman (21-29-4, 7 KOs) vs. Talgat Dosanov (12-11-1, 5 KOs), undefeated Uzbekistan light middleweight Ravshan Hudoinazarov (7-0. 5 KOs), Chimkent hometown favorites such as super bantamweight Yersin Jailauov (19-6-1, 7 KOs), middleweight Kanat Orakbaev (2-0, 0 KOs) and pro-debuting heavyweight Doszhan Ospanov. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Las Vegas-based KZ Event Productions, Inc. is owned by the Shumenov brothers, pro boxer Beibut and Chingis.