Anybody heard of Beibut Shumenov?

He's a light heavyweight, was an amateur from Kazakhstan

In one year he's gone 7-0 with 5 KO's and in his last two fights he's won UD's over Montell Griffin and Epifanio Mendoza. Fighting that kind of competition in the first seven fights is noteworthy to say the least, not sure who has done that in a long time. Sure Griffin's old and he'd come off a stoppage to Glen Johnson (obviously not a disgrace) but I assume he's still tricky as hell, especially for a guy with five fights. Mendoza was just off of giving Jeff Lacy hell, has KO'd one time prospects like Tokunbo Olajide, Ruben Williams and fought Chad Dawson.

Anybody seen him? He's a six two LH, so pretty good size and I assume a fairly long amateur background. Not sure what he's like stylistically.

I've never heard of him, but based on his name alone he is now one of my favorite fighters.

That is a very impressive record though. Did he have a distinguished amateur career? I assume that he must have been a very impressive amateur to be put in against that type of competition so early.

Apparently he did, won some medals at some Asian tournaments, made it to the 2004 Olympics, says he broke a hand in a fight he won but lost the next one mainly because of that, whether that's true or its the broken hand excuse, I have no idea.

I just tend to assume guys from places like Kazakhstan have long amateur careers, I guess some might not.

There's a Q&A with him on fightnews, talks about that and other stuff.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OumaFan

Apparently he did, won some medals at some Asian tournaments, made it to the 2004 Olympics, says he broke a hand in a fight he won but lost the next one mainly because of that, whether that's true or its the broken hand excuse, I have no idea.

I just tend to assume guys from places like Kazakhstan have long amateur careers, I guess some might not.

There's a Q&A with him on fightnews, talks about that and other stuff.

---

Cool. I'm always a fan of fighters from (relatively) obscure places.

Woah, the Montell Griffin fight is on youtube, this is the first round, the fight was in Kazakhstan and the camera work is nuts

I've never seen a fight look like this :o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBmOv9kINgE

A bit cocky to say the least

Bit wild too, gassed out too, needs some work, Griffin made it the distance so I assume it slowed down a bit

The way Griffin responded to that first right hand kind of says shot, odd how he walked off from the ropes. I didn't see him against Johnson.

The Kazakhastan fighters in the Olympics this year were among my favorites they all kind of have that edge to them, a lot of them slick. Shumenov is still young and has ways to go it's just that all these guys he's been hungrier then so far.

There is footage of a bunch of his amateur fights floating around out there and they are fun watches. His record is crazy, Lavell Finger, Donnell Wiggins, Montell Griffin and Epifanio Mendoza. He was supposed to fight Kelvin Davis which would have been interesting.

Another guy is Bayan Jargal who fights like a lot of the Kazakhstan and Mongolia fighters kind of straight up in the air with his hands down but it is fun to watch sometimes.

I was gonna say something about Wiggins but honestly he's dangerously shot, he's been knocked out like 32 times in a row. I don't know much about Finger. Still its an impressive record for seven fights. How was Kelvin Davis gonna make 175? I guess he didn't.

Griffin actually did good work against Johnson but eventually got worn down and he had no offense whatsoever towards the end he was just staying away and covering up. Johnson landed one of the better body shots I've seen in that fight and from that point on Griffin had no legs and I think the corner threw in the towell. Was a left hook right in the center of the chest and you could see it freeze Griffin.

Yeah but it's worth noting at least. Just saw Kelvin Davis has lost like 5 straight, to bad I liked Davis and am happy he's back from his bridge fall.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CFH

I've never heard of him, but based on his name alone he is now one of my favorite fighters.

That is a very impressive record though. Did he have a distinguished amateur career? I assume that he must have been a very impressive amateur to be put in against that type of competition so early.

---

Hey CFH I like the Debs quote and picture. I live in his home town of Terre Haute, Indiana and have spent many hours in his family home which is now a museum.

Jody aka Lucifer

Was gonna say I've only seen the Griffin fight on YouTube.

Not really impressed with him though and needs a lot of work.

Well say what you will, he's certainly on the fast track, he'll be taking on Alejandro Berrio in his eight fight, in Kazakhstan.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OumaFan

Well say what you will, he's certainly on the fast track, he'll be taking on Alejandro Berrio in his eight fight, in Kazakhstan.

---

Alejandro Berrio will win if he lands the first punch--but only if.

Shumenov stopped former champ Byron Mitchell in four Saturday. I know Mitchell is well past his prime but stopping a former champ in your 8th fight is impressive.

I wonder how many more fights he'll have before he challenges for a title.