The Shumenov brothers, world title challenger Beibut and Chingis, two years ago established their boxing promotional company, KZ Event Productions, in Las Vegas. Tomorrow night (Friday), KZ Event Productions makes its Las Vegas debut with the presentation of “Fight Night With De La Hoya and Hopkins: Campillo vs. Shumenov II,” along with Golden Boy Promotions, at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada..
The main event is a 12-round WBA/IBA Light Heavyweight Championship match between WBA champion, Spain’s Gabriel Campillo (19-2, 6 KOs), and IBA World title-holder Beibut Shumenov (8-1, 6 KOs).
Last August in Astana, Kazakhstan, KZ Event Productions presented Campillo’s first title defense against Shumenov, the 2004 Kazakhstan Olympian. Campillo was able to hold on to his WBA World Title by way of a controversial decision that was announced as unanimous but changed the following day to a majority decision (114-113, 113-113 and 115-111) when a scoring error was discovered. The controversy surrounding the scoring led to tomorrow evening’s rematch.
According to CompuBox’s statistical breakdown of Campillo-Shumenov I, Shumenov landed more total punches and at a higher connect percentage (213 of 651 compared to Campillo’s 199 of 672), including a dominating 193-144 edge in power punches. CompuBox’s scoring gave Shumenov the first five rounds in addition to the eighth and ninth (10-8) for a 115-112 advantage.
With a victory against Campillo, Shumenov would become the major world light heavyweight champion with the fewest amount of pro bouts (10), breaking the record (15) set by Jeff “Hit Man” Harding in 1989. Beibut would also become the fourth major world title holder from Kazakhstan, joining Aratoly Alexandrov (1990 WBC super featherweight), Oleg “Big O” Maskaev (2000 WBC heavyweight), and Vassily “The Tiger” Jirov (2001-2003 IBF cruiserweight.
Beibut and Chingis share responsibilities running KZ Event Productions, but as Beibut’s fights get closer, Chingis and his staff always take as much of the promotional business stress as possible off Beibut. “I am involved 100-percent until I go into training for a fight,” Beibut explained. “My brother and Team KZ take the burden off of me so I can focus on training. Our first goal is for me to win the WBA world title and then we will continue signing fighters and building champions.”
Joining Shumenov on tomorrow night’s show are two other KZ Event Productions fighters, unbeaten Uzbekistan prospects light heavyweight Gayrat Ahmedov (12-0-1, 8 KOs) and Ravshan Hudaynazarov (9-0, 6 KOs), making their United States debuts.
“We’re building our promotional company to compete with the best in the business,” Chingis added. “When Beibut has a fight, the rest of Team KZ pulls together and takes care of business, so he can train properly. My brother’s success has brought attention to KZ Event Productions and we’ve been able to sign some great prospects like Gayrat and Ravshan. We’re very excited to have them both in our stable of future champions. Gayrat fought on our last two shows and Ravshan made his Team KZ debut on our last card. This is going to be a big night for the Shumenov brothers and everybody associated with KZ Event Productions.”
“Campillo vs. Shumenov II” is being presented by KZ Event Productions and Golden Boy Promotions with Campillo vs. Shumenov presented in association with Sampson Boxing LLC. The bout will be televised live on Fox Sports Net (FSN) and its regional sports network affiliates beginning at 11 pm ET / 8 pm PT (check local listings). Doors will open at 6 pm and the first bell rings at 7 pm
In the event’s opening televised 10-round bout, former Cuban amateur star Erislandy Lara (9-0, 5 KOs) faces veteran junior middleweight Grady Brewer (26-11, 15 KOs), winner of The Contender II reality television show.
Tickets for this action-packed night of boxing are priced at $150, $125, $100, $50 and $40 (general admission standing room tickets). Tickets may be purchased at the Hard Rock Hotel Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.
Campillo-Shumenov II Friday night in Las Vegas
On Friday, January 29, KZ Event Productions and Golden Boy Promotions are pleased to present an evening of world championship boxing when they present “Campillo vs. Shumenov II” at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In the 12-round main event, Spain’s Gabriel Campillo will defend his WBA Light Heavyweight World Title against Las Vegas resident Beibut Shumenov, who will defend his IBA Light Heavyweight World Title, in a rematch of their heated 2009 title fight. In that August bout, Campillo upset the odds in an exciting 12 rounder that saw both men hit the deck before the Spaniard took the razor-thin and highly controversial majority decision.
“Campillo vs. Shumenov II” is presented by KZ Event Productions and Golden Boy Promotions, with Campillo vs. Shumenov presented in association with Sampson Boxing LLC. The bout will be televised live on Fox Sports Net (FSN) and its regional sports network affiliates beginning at 11 pm ET / 8 pm PT (check local listings). Doors will open at 6 pm and the first bell rings at 7 pm.
Tickets for this action-packed night of boxing are priced at $150, $125, $100, $50 and $40 (general admission standing room tickets) and may be purchased at the Hard Rock Hotel Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-745-3000.
In the event’s opening televised fight, former Cuban amateur star Erislandy Lara faces veteran junior middleweight Grady Brewer, winner of The Contender II reality television show, in a 10-round bout.
Also in action will be undefeated Uzbekistani standouts Gayrat Ahmedov and Ravshan Hudaynazarov, super featherweight stars Eloy Perez and David Rodela and hot California prospects Carlos Molina and Ronny Rios.
A professional since 2002, 31-year-old Gabriel Campillo (19-2, 5 KO’s) really hit his stride in 2009. Formerly the holder of the Spanish light heavyweight title, Campillo kicked off last year by decisioning Lolenga Mock for the European Union belt. Just three months later on June 20, he defeated Hugo Garay in his home country of Argentina for the WBA Light Heavyweight World Title before finishing off 2009 with his win over the previously unbeaten Shumenov. On January 29, he looks for a repeat against Shumenov in his United States debut.
One of boxing’s most amazing stories, Beibut Shumenov (8-1, 6 KO’s) represented his country of Kazakhstan in the 2004 Olympics, but didn’t make his professional debut until 2007. Shumenov quickly made up for lost time, defeating veterans Donnell Wiggins and Epifanio Mendoza, as well as former World Champions Montell Griffin and Byron Mitchell, all within his first eight professional fights, an impressive feat by any standards. Although he lost to Campillo in his first world title bout last year, the 26-year-old Shumenov plans to use the defeat as a learning experience and aims to reverse that result on January 29.
Former amateur star Erislandy Lara (9-0, 5 KO’s) has made a seamless transition to the professional ranks since leaving Cuba, and in nine fights has dazzled boxing insiders and fans with his speed, power and poise. Fresh off of a near-shutout win over veteran Luciano Perez in his first 10-round fight last December, Lara will look to continue his meteoric rise against the vastly more experienced and always dangerous Grady Brewer.
The story of Lawton, Oklahoma’s Grady Brewer (26-11, 15 KO’s) is the classic tale of a fighter who came up the hard way, but in 2006, Brewer finally got his chance to shine as a competitor on the hit reality series “The Contender.” By the end of that year he scored three victories and defeated former World Champion Steve Forbes to take home the series crown. Since then, Brewer has put together four more wins, three by knockout and is eager to pin the first loss on Lara’s record on January 29.
Making their United States debuts on January 29 will be light heavyweight Gayrat Ahmedov (12-0-1, 8 KO’s) and his fellow countryman from Uzbekistan, junior middleweight Ravshan Hudaynazarov (9-0, 7 KO’s). Both fighters are known for their ring savvy and exciting styles, and with Ahmedov riding a five-fight knockout streak and Hudaynazarov winning his last three bouts by knockout, fans can expect fireworks from both of them. Ahmedov will face Harley Kilfian (8-3, 7 KO’s) of Kenton, Ohio in a six round bout while Hudaynazarov battles Rochester, Minnesota’s Scott Ball (10-6, 8 KO’s) in a six round fight.
Eloy Perez (15-0-2, 4 KO’s), from Salinas, Calif., will start 2010 with a 10-round junior featherweight clash against the pride of Oxnard, Calif., “Dangerous” David Rodela (14-1-2, 6 KO’s) in defense of his USNBC Super Featherweight title in a bout that was originally slatted for the January 30 undercard of Shane Mosley vs. Andre Berto. These California standouts combined for a record of 6-0 in 2009; but on January 29, somebody’s winning streak will end.
Undefeated junior welterweight Carlos Molina (9-0, 5 KO’s) of Norwalk, California will return to the ring after a very successful 2009 during which he stepped up his level of competition and defeated five of his last six opponents by knockout. Molina will be making his Las Vegas debut against St. Joseph, Missouri native Tyler Ziolowski (12-10, 6 KO’s) in a six round bout.
19-year-old featherweight phenom Ronny Rios (8-0, 4 KO’s) kicks off his 2010 campaign on January 29, and if his 2009 season was any indication, fight fans should be in for something special from the Santa Ana, Calif. native, who went 6-0 with 3 knockouts last year. Rios will see action in a six round featherweight bout against Willshaun Boxley (5-3, 3 KO’s) of Coons Rapids, Minnesota.
Opening up the show will be junior welterweight prospect Jessie Vargas (7-0, 3 KO’s) of Las Vegas, Nevada in a four round bout against an opponent to be determined.