Beibut Shumenov

Present Title:
IBA World Champion
WBA World Champion

Amateur Honors:
2004 Kazakhstan Olympian,
Gold medalist in 2004 Asian Championships, in Philippines,
Silver medalist in the 1st Afro-Asian games in 2003, in India

Beibut Shumenov took the fast track to stardom, capturing the World Boxing Association light heavyweight title January 29, 2010 in only his tenth pro fight, to establish the fewest-fights record for the 175-pound division champion of a major organization. In only 3 1/2 years as a professional prize fighter, the athletic 27-year-old is on the verge of becoming a major player worldwide in boxing.

In less than 10 months after he turned pro in late 2007, Shumenov had won all six of his pro fights, including five by knockout, and captured three title belts – WBC Asian Boxing Council, WBO Asia Pacific and PABA Interim light heavyweight championships. He has since relinquished those titles. Beibut also was the WBC Asian Boxing Council Organization’s 2008 Boxer of the Year.

Beibut owns and operates KZ Event Productions, a Las Vegas-based promotional boxing company, along with his brother, Chingis.

In 2008, Shumenov easily won a 12-round decision, making his WBC and WBO Asian title defenses, against former WBC title-holder Montell “Ice” Griffin (50-8, 30 KOs), whose victims over the years include a pair of future Hall of Famers, Roy Jones, Jr. and James Toney (twice). Beibut won every round, nearly stopping Griffin in the opening round, en route to shutting out the former world champion by lop-sided scores of 120-108, 120-108, 120-107. After the fight Griffin, who was rated No. 22 by the WBC going into the fight, was taken to the hospital for stitches for a cut over his eye as well as to get his ribs examined after Beibut’s devastating body attack.

Shumenov was highly-touted in the 2004 Olympics, winning his opening bout against Polish representative Aleksy Kuziemsky (presently 18-1 as a pro prospect), 37-22. Hampered by a hand injury, Beibut was defeated in the round of 16 in the same light heavyweight division Andre Ward of the United States won a gold medal.

Shumenov won his pro debut November 17, 2007 in North Carolina, scoring a first-round TKO of Walter Edwards, followed in order by an opening-round knockout of Cedric Howard in Florida, and fourth-round TKO of 68-fight veteran Shannon Miller in Tennessee. Beibut put Donnell Wiggins (24-10-4) to sleep in the second round of their April 22, 2008 fight in Kazakhstan for the WBC Asian and PABA Interim light heavyweight crowns. Ten days later, Beibut stopped Lavell Fingers (26-2), former U.S. National Golden Gloves champion, in the first-round of their April 22 fight, also held in Kazakhstan. Beibut successfully defended his two Asian titles and also collected the PABA Interim crown.

After his dominating performance against Griffin, Beibut returned to the ring December 13, 2008 in the 10-round main event of a show promoted by his company, KZ Event Productions, in Bellvue, Washington. Shumenov improved his pro record to 7-0 (5 KOs), easily outpointing former world title challenger Epifanio “Diamente” Mendoza (28-6-1), who was coming off a controversial loss to former world champion Jeff Lacy, by scores of 100-90, 98-92 and 97-93.

Beibut stopped former 2-time WBA super middleweight champion Byron “Slama From ‘Bama” Mitchell (27-4-1) in the fourth round of their May 9, 2009 fight for the vacant International Boxing Association crown in Shymkent.

Shumenov and WBA light heavyweight champion Gabriel Campillo battled August 15, 2009 in Astana, Kazakhstan, as Campillo retained his crown by winning a controversial 12-round majority decision (115-111, 114-113, 113-113), which resulted in the WBA ordering a rematch between Campillo and Shumenov this past January 29.

At The Joint in Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Casino, Shumenov captured the WBA title in his 10th pro fight, as well as regaining the IBA crown, with his history-making victory by 12-round split decision (117-111, 115-113, 111-117).

In his first WBA title defense (July 23, 2010) in only his 11th pro fight, Shumenov overcame excessive heat that registered higher than 100 degrees, as well as a first-round flash knockdown to completely dominated previously undefeated, mandatory challenger Vyachesklav Uzelkov (22-1, 14 KOs), en route to a lopsided 12-round decision (118-108 twice, 117-109).

Uzelkov dropped Shumenov with a counter-left hook late in the opening round, which seemed to embarrass the defending champ more than anything. “It was a lucky punch,” he explained. “I was never hurt.”

Beibut bounced right up and outworked his opponent the remaining 11 rounds, flooring Uzelkov with a straight right at the end of the third round. Shumenov displayed vast improvement in only his second fight with Kevin Barry as his head trainer. A cut on his right eyelid never became a problem thanks to the work of cutman “stitch” Duran.

Shumenov (11-1, 7 KOs), in only his 12th pro fight , was supposed to fight WBO champion Juergen Braehmer (36-2, 29 KOs) in a world unification match this past January in Shymkent, breaking what is believed to be the record for fewest fights in a major unification bout in which both featured fighters were world champions. WBA cruiserweight king Evander Holyfield set the mark in 1987, when he fought in his 15th pro
fight against  IBF champ Ricky Parky. Braehmer, however, pulled out of the fight the week of the fight claiming illness and three-time world champion William Joppy (39-7-2, 30 KOs) served as a late replacement.

“I don’t think about records,” Shumenov said. “I just want the challenge of fighting the best to become the undisputed light heavyweight champion of the world in order to be considered the best. I chose to fight Juergen Braehmer in my quest to unify the light heavyweight division, but Braehmer pulled out, refusing to be examined by the Kazakhstan Boxing Commission doctor, and breaching his contract. I trained too hard for Braehmer to disappoint my fans and many dignitaries, including the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, attending our show. I put Braehmer in the rear view mirror and got right back on track successfully defending my titles against Joppy, who I applauded for accepting the fight on such late notice.”

Joppy became the fourth world champion Shumenov has defeated in relatively young pro career. Beibut also joined fellow world champion, Lucian Bute, and former superstar Felix Trinidad as the only fighters to knockout Joppy, when Shumenov floored his experienced opponent in the fifth and then finished him off with a vicious left hook to the body in the following round.

“My goal is to unify the light heavyweight division,” Shumenov added. “I want to fight the other world champions. Fighting at home in front of my family and friends, as well as my fans and countrymen, was my honor. I can go toe-to-toe or move and box. I’m trying to learn everything so I can be the best, using my power and speed, and listening to my corner. Now, I’m fully focused on collecting the other world light heavyweight titles.”