WBA light heavyweight (175 pounds) titlist and former Olympian Beibut Shumenov got up from a first-round knockdown, floored his opponent at the bell ending the third round, and was generally busier in out-hustling Vyacheslav Uzelkov, of Vinitza, Ukraine, on the way to Friday night’s unanimous, 12-round decision at The Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif.

A 26-year-old from Kazakhstan who became a champion in just his 10th fight, Shemov had perhaps his best, overall career performance in making the first defense of his crown against the 31-year-old Uzelkov.

Shumenov took the bout, 118-108 on two judges’ cards, and, 117-109 on the third. A recent signee with Goossen Tutor Promotions, Shumenov rose to 10-1, with six knockouts, having won the title with January’s disputed split-decision that dethroned Spanish southpaw Gabriel Campillo (19-3, six KOs).

Beibut Shumenov retained his light heavyweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Vyacheslav Uzelkov on Friday Night in Lemoore, California. The fight was the main event of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights.

Shumenov started out strong, landing hard shots to the body of Uzelkov on a night that featured in-ring temperatures in excess of 100 degrees. Seeming to conserve his energy, Uzelkov opted to throw one big shot at a time. Uzelkov exploded with a left hook in the first round that sent the champion to the canvas. Shumenov responded with a knockdown of his own in the third round, sending Uzelkov to the mat with a straight right.

By Trent Pusey