25.08.08 – Pennsylavania light heavy, Tommy Karpency (12-1-1) returned with an impressive first round stoppage of former I.B.C. champ, Etianne Whitaker (33-30-2) in the main event at the Waterfront Place Hotel in Morgantown, West Virginia on Friday night. The 6 bout card, promoted by Simons’ Promotions, provided alittle bit of everything for the ‘packed house’ crowd..
The undercard was highlighted by several heavyweight fights. Jim Emrick (6-1-1) won a 4 round unamimous decision over late sub, Jonathon Felton (5-11-1), while Jason Bergman (7-6) stopped Carlton Johnson (15-17-1) at 2:28 of round 2. Also, local heavy, Matt Clark (0-1) dropped a 4 round majority decision to Brandon Winner (1-4) in a brutal slugfest which left both men beaten and bloodied. Lastly, super middle, Jimmy Lubash (9-1) stopped Gonzalee Jones of Akron at 1:43 of the third round. Live pro boxing returns to the Waterfront Place Hotel on Saturday November 15th.
“Beibut The Beast” Boxing’s Top Secret Project
KAZAKHSTAN (August 24, 2008) – Former Kazakhstan Olympian Beibut “The Beast” Shumenov is the greatest fighter in the world that most boxing fans haven’t heard of, at least not at this stage of his young professional career.
In less than 10 months, 24-year-old Shumenov has won all six of his pro fights, five by knockout, capturing three title belts – WBC Asian Boxing Council, WBO Asia Pacific and PABA Interim light heavyweight championships.
Earlier this month in Chimkent, Kazakhaston, Shumenov (6-0, 5 KOs) easily won a 12-round decision, in 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, rated No. 22 by the WBA, 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, already rated No. 15 by the WBO prior to his victory against Griffin, was highly touted in the 2004 Olympics, winning his opening bout against Polish representative Aleksy Kuziemsky (presently 15-0 as a pro prospect), 37-22. Amidst rumors of a hand injury, Beibut was defeated in the round of 16 by Turkey’s Ihsan Yildorim Tarham, 27-19, in the same light heavyweight division Andre Ward of the United States won a gold medal.
Last November in North Carolina, Shumenov won his pro debut with 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. In April,
Beibut put Donnell Wiggins (24-10-4) to sleep in the second round of their fight in Kazakhstan for the WBC Asian and PABA Interim light heavyweight crowns. Ten days later, Beibut stopped Lavell Fingers (26-2) 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.
Trained by Kenny Adams and advised by E Point K Consulting, Shumenov is resting in Kazakhaston and will return to Las Vegas in late September, early October to prepare for his next fight. Beibut plans to make a title run in 2009.
The word is slowly getting out in boxing: “Beibut The Beast” is on the loose!
Cuban Boxing Trio set for “Celtic Crossing”
Ireland’s boxing heroes will arrive home on Tuesday with Kenny Egan, Paddy Barnes and Darren Sutherland proudly showing off their Olympic wares. However another boxing trio touched down in Ireland this weekend intent on global domination.
Cuban’s Mike Perez, Luis Garcia and Alexei Acosta are 3 former World Junior Champions who spurned a place at the Beijing Olympics in order to concentrate on success in the pro ranks and bringing World titles to their newly adopted home city of Cork.
Cork businessman Gary Hyde has brought all three to Leeside and the Cuban invasion started with the arrival of heavyweight sensation, Mike “The Rebel” Perez in January.
Since his arrival he’s racked up four wins with three of them coming in the very first round and he’s now been joined by his two compatriots Garcia and Acosta. Perez will headline the “Celtic Crossing” event at the Neptune Stadium, Cork on Saturday, September 13th while Garcia and Acosta will make their professional debuts.
Hyde believes all three are World Champions in the making. “I first saw Mike Perez in Liverpool in 2005 when he beat Kenneth Egan in a light heavyweight bout. He was only 19 at the time but his speed and power stood out and I knew then that this was a man who with the right guidance could become the heavyweight champion of the world.
“We’ve all been proud of Kenny’s tremendous performance in the Olympics and I think his achievements in Beijing underlines just how much potential Perez has. I’ve no doubt he will bring the world heavyweight title back to Cork.”
Hyde has equally high hopes for Acosta and Garcia. “Alongside Mike Perez these were the other two guys who caught my eye in recent years. I think they are made for the pro game and I’ve no doubt both of them would have taken Gold in Beijing had they not been more interested in turning pro.”
Hyde’s bold claim is backed up by their results against their Cuban compatriots in recent years. Acosta beat Andry Laffita in this years Cuban championships but surrendered his Olympic berth to pursue his professional ambitions. Laffita took his place and on Sunday won Olympic Silver in the flyweight final in Beijing,
As for Luis Garcia he easily outpointed middleweight representative Emilio Correa by 13 points to 3 in their last meeting but Correa still ended up on the plane to China.
“The politics in amateur boxing denied Luis a place in Bejing because Correa’s father was a Gold medallist in 1972 and he still has huge influence in Cuban boxing,” explained Hyde.
“Garcia proved himself the better man but it was no real surprise that it was Correa who got the nod when it came to Olympic selection. Correa ended up winning silver but I’ve no doubt that Garcia would have taken Gold but equally I’ve no doubt that he can now become World Middleweight Champion.”
Hyde says it’s a chance for the Irish boxing public to see three future superstars of the sport up close and personal when they take to the ring in Cork next month. “Irish boxing is on a real high at the moment, the pro game has really taken off in the last few years and the performances of our amateurs at the Olympics was sensational. These three Cuban’s will be adopted by Irish fight fans and with their power and skills they will be ones to watch all the way to World titles.”
The undercard for “Celtic Crossing” will also feature the best of the Fighting Irish with undefeated Cork prospect Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan featuring alongside fellow unbeaten pro’s Jamie Power (Limerick), Michael Sweeney (Mayo) and Ian Tims (Dublin).
Tickets for “Celtic Crossing” are available from Ticketmaster and all usual outlets.
For further information contact Gary Hyde on 087 872424898.