By Leonid Yuryev (ringside) and Alexey Sukachev, fightnews.com

Sky is the limit for the Kazakh light heavyweight sensation Beibut Shumenov (8-0, 6 KOs). Moments ago at Khadjimukan Stadium, in Chimkent, Kazakhstan, Shumenov scored maybe his most impressive victory so far by stopping former two-time world champion Byron Mitchell (27-5-1, 20 KOs) in four bloody rounds. Both pugilists gave their all in three starting stanzas of the fight with no one achieving a notable advantage. However, in round four it was Beibut who started to dominate his foe with the sheer aggression and overall power. Mitchell was dropped after a powerful combo by relentless Shumenov, stood up but failed to sustain the subsequent attack of the sky-rocketing prospect, which forced his team to throw in the towel and to end the contest in the fourth round. After just eight professional fights, Shumenov, previously ranked #8 by the WBA and #9 by the WBO, had two former champions (Mitchell and Montell Griffin) to his resume and an assortment of various minor titles, including the IBA, WBO Asia Pacific, WBC ABCO belts and the interim version of the PABA light heavyweight regalia.
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Former IBF light middleweight champion Roman Karmazin (39-3-1, 25 KOs) decked Brazilian journeyman Luiz Augusto Dos Santos (24-16, 20 KOs) after the powerful multi-punch combination in the fourth round. Dos Santos’ cornermen immediately threw in a towel to prevent their man from the further punishment. Karmazin, who is ranked #5 by the IBF and #7 by the WBC, scored his third straight victory as a middleweight.
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Newly-signed Uzbek light heavyweight Gayrat “Gerry” Akhmedov (11-0-1, 7 KOs) made a sensational debut under KZ Event Productions banner, scoring a devastating first-minute kayo victory over Brazilian Luzimar Gonzaga (27-5, 21 KOs). The guest fighter was knocked out cold after a huge right hand to the chin by 30-year old Akhmedov.
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Former WBO light welterweight titlist DeMarcus Corley (34-11-1, 20 KOs) came back into the winning column after his eighth-round TKO over Brazilian import Sidney Siqueira (12-4-1, 7 KOs). Corley floored his foe with a huge right to the head with ten seconds remaining in the fight. Siqueira barely beat the count but the bout was stopped moments later after another huge assault by the ex-champion. Time was 2:58.

LAS VEGAS (May 7, 2009) – Former two-time world champion Byron “Slama from Bama” Mitchell has replaced Alejandro “Naco” Berrio as light heavyweight sensation Beibut Shumenov’s opponent, Saturday night in the main event on an all-star card, outdoors at Khadkimukan Stadium in Shumenov’s hometown of Chimkent, Kazakhstan. Berrio had visa issues in Colombia.

Saturday’s show (May 9), presented by KZ Event Productions, owned by the Shumenov brothers, Beibut and Chingis, will be taped live for later broadcasts in North America.

2004 Kazakhstan Olympian Shumenov (7-0, 5 KOs), 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 WBO Asia Pacific, WBC Asian Boxing Council and PABA Interim titles will all be on the line, as well as the vacant IBA world crown, against present NABA USA light heavyweight champion Mitchell (27-4-1, 20 KOs).

Reigning NABA USA title-holder Mitchell first captured the WBA super middleweight belt in 1999, stopping defending champion Frankie Liles in the 11th round. Byron, 1999 Ntional Golden Gloves middleweight champion, recaptured the WBA crown in 2001 via a 12th round knockout of Manny Siaca. Two successful title defenses followed against Siaca (DEC12) and Julio Cesar Green (TKO4). All four of Mitchell’s four career losses have been to world champions – Joe Calzaghe, Sven Ottke, Bruno Girard and Richard Hall.

“Although we’re disappointed Beibut won’t be fighting Berrio as planned,” Chingis Shumenov said, “we’re excited that Mitchell accepted our offer to fight him in the main event. We’ve been targeting Mitchell, who is a world-class fighter that’s fought some of the biggest names in boxing.”

Former IBF light middleweight Roman “Made In Hell” Karmazin will fight at home for the first time in seven years against Luis “Tyson” Augusto Dos Santos (24-15, 20 KOs) in the 10-round co-feature. Born in Russia, reigning NABF middleweight title-holder Karmazin (38-3-1, 24 KOs), rated No. 5 by the IBF and No. 10 by the WBC, was stationed in the military and later lived in Uralsk, Kazakhstan, where his son, Oleg, still resides and studies.

Also fighting on Saturday’s card 4-time Uzbekistan National amateur champion Gayrat Ahmedov (10-0-1, 6 KOs), making his KZ Event Productions debut, versus WBC Latino and Brazilian title-holder Luzimar “Tiger of Itacre” Gonzaga (25-4, 20 KOs), in an 8-round light heavyweight match.

Former WBO light welterweight champion DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley (33-11, 19 KOs) meets former Brazilian lightweight champion Sidney Siqueira (12-3-1, 7 KOs) in an 8-round bout

The undercard is loaded with undefeated Uzbekistan light middleweight Ravshan Hudoinazarov (7-0. 5 KOs) vs. former Brazilian lightweight title-holder Isak “Iza” Tavares (16-6, 4 KOs), plus Chimkent hometown favorites such as light middleweight Kanat Orakbaev (2-0, 0 KOs) vs. Umid Soliev (1-1, 0 KOs) and pro-debuting heavyweight Doszhan Ospanov. All fights and fighters are subject to change.