KZ Event Boxing: Shumenov Targets WBO Champion Erdei
Light heavyweight sensation Beibut Shumenov, arguably the most ambitious fighter in the world, has targeted WBO champion Zsolt “Firebird†Erdei after his May 9 IBA title fight against former IBF super middleweight champion Alejandro “Naco†Berrio, outdoors at Khadjimukan Stadium in Shumenov’s hometown of Chimkent, Kazakhstan.
The star-studded May 9 show is being presented by KZ Event Productions, owned by the Shumenov brothers, Beibut and Chingis, and headlined by Shumenov vs. Berrio in the 12-round main event.
2004 Kazakhstan Olympian Shumenov, 7-0 (5), 2008 WBC Asian Boxing Council Boxer of the Year, is already rated No. 8 by the WBA, No. 9 by the WBO and No. 16 by the WBC.
His WBO Asia Pacific, WBC Asian Boxing Council and PABA Interim titles will also be on the line against Colombian knockout specialist Berrio, 28-5 (27), rated No. 9 by the IBF and No. 11 by the WBC.
“We contacted Universum about Beibut fighting Erdei,†Chingis explained. “They promised to get back to us but never did. We’re not looking past Berrio by any means, he’s very dangerous, but we want a title shot against Erdei.
“Beibut has already beaten one world champion, Montell Griffin, as well as a world title challenger, Epifanio Mendoza, in his last fight, and now he’s fighting another former world champion, Berrio.
“We’ve challenged former world champions Clinton Woods, Glen Johnson, Julio Cesar Gonzalez and Byron Mitchell. None of them want to fight Beibut.
“Title contending opportunities should be about the quality, not the number, of opponents fought. Beibut’s only had sev en pro fights, true, but look at whom he’s beaten. People forget that in 1978, Leon Spinks had only seven pro fights when he beat the great Muhammad Ali for the world heavyweight title.
“We never wanted to fight guys just to build-up Beibut’s record, rather, opponents with belts or former world champions. There’s no excuse because we’re self-promoted, so there are no middle men to deal with. Erdei has a title defense scheduled August 22 against TBA. We’ll be ready, willing and able for him.â€
Former IBF light middleweight Roman “Made In Hell†Karmazin will fight at home for the first time in seven years on May 9 in the 10-round co-feature against Luis “Tyson†Augusto Dos Santos, 24-15 (20).
Born in Russia, reigning NABF middleweight title-holder Karmazin, 38-3-1 (24) ,was stationed in the military and later lived in Uralsk, Kazakhstan, where his son, Oleg, still resides and studies.
Also fighting on the May 9 card is former WBO light welterweight title-holder DeMarcus “Chop Chop†Corley, 33-11 (19), versus former Brazilian champion Sidney Siqueira, 12-3-1 (7), and four time Uzbekistan National amateur champion Gayrat Ahmedov, 10-0-1 (6), who will be making his KZ Event debut, against WBC Latino and Brazilian title-holder Luzimar “Tiger of Itacre†Gonzaga, 25-4 (20), in a pair of eight round bouts against opponents to be determined.
The undercard is loaded with undefeated Uzbekistan light middleweight Ravshan Hudoinazarov, 7-0 (5), vs. Andre Marcos “Wolvwerine†Nascimento, 13-2 (9), heavyweight “Wreckless†Willie Chapman, 21-29-4 (7) vs. Talgat Dosanov, 12-11-1 (5), plus Chimkent hometown favorites such as super bantamweight Yersin Jailauov, 19-6-1 (7), light middleweight Kanat Orakbaev, 2-0 (0) vs. Umid Soliev, 1-1 (0) and pro-debuting heavyweight Doszhan Ospanov.
All fights and fighters are subject to change.