Light heavyweight Beibut Shumenov continued the auspicious start to his career as the talented upstart stopped former two-time super middleweight world champion Byron Mitchell in the fourth round of their clash yesterday at Stadium Khaddjimukan in Chimkent, Kazakhstan.
25 year old Shumenov, 8-0 (6), took the fight to Mitchell, who traded on even terms before falling to the quick combination shots of the local man in the fourth round.
35 year old Mitchell, 27-5-1 (20), beat the count but was unable to defend himself from Shumenov’s followup assault and the bout was called when Mitchell’s corner threw in the towel.
At stake were the WBO Asia Pacific, WBC Asian Boxing Council, IBA and Interim PABA titles.
Shumenov has now defeated the trio of Mitchell, 38 year old former light heavy world champ Montell Griffin and Colombian power puncher Epifiano Mendoza in his last three contests.
Two former world champions were on the undercard as former IBF light middle titlist Roman Karmazin, 39-3-1 (25), stopped Luiz Augusto Dos Santos, 24-16 (2), in the fourth at middleweight and former WBO light welter boss DeMarcus Corley, 34-11-1 (20), stopped Sidney Siqueira, 12-4-1 (7), in the eighth and final round.
At Caloundra Indoor Stadium in Caloundra, Australia, cruiserweight Darren Obah, 20-4 (13), stopped Nik Taumafai, 18-20 (10), in the fourth round.
Former Australian, IBF Pan Pacific and PABA middleweight champ Obah returned from a seven year hiatus following a stoppage loss to Anthony Mundine and with the victory over Taumafai, wins the vacant Queensland state cruiserweight title.
On Friday in Australia, Ryan Waters, 15-2-1 (9), retained his WBO Oriental light middleweight belt with a majority decision against former Australian welter titlist Eddie “Psycho” Delic, 15-9-2 (3), at Cronulla Sutherland Leagues Club in Cronulla, NSW.