MASHANTUCKET, CT (Aug. 31, 2010) – Former world title challenger “Sucra” Ray Oliveira returns to the ring October 2nd for the first time in more than five years against world rated light heavyweight Joey “KO Kid” Spina, headlining the “Last Man Standing” card, in Fox Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. “Last Man Standing” is being presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES), in association with Foxwoods Resort Casino..
“We’re excited to have Ray Oliveira’s comeback start on our ‘Last Man Standing’ show,” CES president Jimmy Burchfield said. “All of us are very happy to be back at Foxwoods, too. Ray was one of the most exciting fighters in the world, setting records on ESPN for most punches thrown. He is a fighter’s fighter who didn’t want to return against a soft opponent for an easy win. Ray wants to be tested and he will be against Joey Spina, one of the hardest hitting punchers, pound-for-pound, in boxing. It’s a crossroads fight for both of them. What’s Ray got left? That’s the key question. He fought most of his career at 140-147 and this fight is at 175. Spina was getting close to a world title shot but fighting to a draw last October hurt him. He could use a win against a name opponent like Ray to push him higher up in the world ratings.”
Oliveira, 42, has always been an action-fighter and is also a 3-time world title challenger. The slick boxer and defensive genius from New Bedford (MA) is a former IBU welterweight, NABF light welterweight and New England lightweight champion. “Sucra” has defeated Vince Phillips, Saul Duran, Vivian Harris, Charles Murray (twice), and Tracy Spann, among the more notables, and also fought world champions Ricky Hatton, Vernon Forrest, Jake Rodriguez and Zack Padilla.
Spina returns to the scene of his greatest triumph, which occurred back in 2006 at Foxwoods when “KO Kid” stopped Jesse Brinkley with a vicious body shot in the 11th round of a fight Spina trailed. Brinkley challenges IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute for the world title October 15. Spina, who is coming off of a 10-round draw last October against former world champion Lou Del Valle, also holds wins against former world champion Carl Daniels, Jay Pina and Anwar Oshana
In an intriguing match-up of promising prospects, David Bauza (5-0, 3 KOs), of Hartford, and Reynaldo Rodriguez (5-1, 2 KOs), fighting out of Woonsocket (RI), battle for the vacant EBA New England Super Middleweight Championship in the 6-round co-feature.
“Ray and Joey aren’t the only fighters on this stacked card who find themselves at the crossroads, “Burchfield noted. “Billy Moffard hasn’t been in the ring for a long time. We also have some of the best young fighters in New England and two – David Bauza and Renyaldo Rodriguez — are in against each other.”
Hometown favorite Karen Dulin (1-6, 0 KOs), a super bantamweight from nearby Mystic, meets Treasure Saunders (0-4-1) in a 4-round match. Also scheduled to fight against opponents to be announced are Hartford super lightweight Joseph “Chipper” Jones (4-0, 1 KO), Stamford (CT) light heavyweight Ahmad Mickens (1-0), Hartford welterweight Addy Irizarry (8-4, 2 KOs), Randolph (MA) heavyweight Billy “The Kid” Mofford, and New Haven super lightweight Edwin Soto (4-0-1, 2 KOs). All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets, priced at $40.00, $60.00 and $100.00, are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254) or Foxwoods (800-200-2882), going online at www.cesboxing.com or www.foxwoods.com, or in person at Foxwood’s box office.
For more information contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or Foxwoods Resort Casino (www.foxwoods.com). Doors open at 6:00 PM/ET, first bout at 7:00 PM/ET.
Beibut Shumenov WBA/IBA Light Heavyweight World Champ On Fast Track To Boxing Stardom
LAST VEGAS (August 30, 2010) – WBA and IBA Light Heavyweight World Champion Beibut Shumenov took the fast track to become world champion, establishing a weight-class record along the way, and now he wants to accelerate his road to stardom.
Shumenov is set on a mission to unify the titles starting with his next bout, hopefully before the year is out.
“I want a unification fight next,” Shumenov said. “I’m ready to fight any of the other champions now. (Jean) Pascal and (Tavoris) Cloud are both good champions and I’d love to fight either one. Throw in world champion Jurgen Brahmer, too. My goal is to unify the titles. I have a lot of respect for all of the other champions but I want their titles.”
“It’s unheard of, a fighter that wants one challenge after another so early in their career,” said Dan Goossen of Goossen Tutor Promotions. “But this is what boxing needs, the most competitive and biggest fights that can be made. The networks should ONLY be looking at these young champions to be facing off with one another. Beibut wants to give the fans want they want to see.”
Shumenov (10-1, 6 KOs), born in Kazakhstan and now living in Las Vegas, wasn’t looking to pad his record from the day he turned pro 2 ½ years ago, after he represented Kazakhstan in the 2004 Olympics.
In his third pro fight, he took on 70-fight veteran Shannon Miller, who was put to sleep in the fourth round of their fight in Memphis, followed only three weeks later in Kazakhstan by a second-round knockout of former WBC Continental Americas champion Donnell Wiggins (24-10-4) for the WBC Asian Boxing Council and Interim PABA light heavyweight belts.
Next up for Shumenov were successful title defenses of the aforementioned crowns, in addition to capturing the vacant WBO Asia Pacific belt against Lavell Finger (26-2) who didn’t make it out of the opening round. Fighting at home for the third straight fight, Shumenov stepped-up to face his stiffest test, former WBC and WBA light heavyweight champion, Montell Griffin (49-7), who sported wins against world champions James Toney (twice) and Roy Jones, Jr. Shumenov pitched a complete, 12-round shutout, winning the unanimous decision by scores of 120-108, 120-108, 120-107.
Back in the U.S., Shumenov squared-off against world title challenger Epifanio Mendoza (28-6-1), who had lost to Chad Dawson in their 2007 world title fight and a year later by a controversial decision to former world champion Jeff Lacy. Beibut defeated Mendoza in Bellevue, Washington by 10-round unanimous decision (100-90, 98-92, 97-93).
From that point on it’s been all world championship fights for Shumenov, who captured the IBA crown last year in Kazakhstan, stopping 2-time world super middleweight champion Byron Mitchell (27-4-1) in the fourth round. In his ninth pro fight, Shumenov unsuccessfully challenged WBA titlist Gabriel Campillo in Kazakhstan, losing a hotly contested, questionable 12-round majority decision.
Beibut bounced back strong in another back-and-forth rematch this past January, winning a 12-round decision against Campillo for the WBA belt in only his 10th pro fight. Shumenov shattered the previous world record for fewest professional fights to capture a major World light heavyweight title, 15, set by Jeff “Hit Man” Harding in 1989.
In his first WBA title defense (July 23) on ESPN Friday Night Fights, Shumenov showed the valuable lessons learned from the prior two Campillo bouts, to totally dominate mandatory challenger and previously unbeaten Vyacheslav Uzelkov (22-0, 13 KOs), displaying speed, aggressiveness and fearlessness right through the closing seconds en route to an overwhelming unanimous decision (118-108, 118-108, 117-109).
His impressive fight against the Ukrainian was only his second with head trainer, Kevin Barry, and first fighting for Goossen Tutor Promotions. The classy Kazakh showed tremendous ability and fought his way side-by-side with the other 175-pound champions. “I have the best trainer in the world, Kevin, and I was 100-percent dedicated to training and completely focused on Uzelkov alone because I signed with Goossen Tutor,” Beibut explained.
Shumenov joined featherweight Aratoly Alexandrov, heavyweight, Oleg “Big O’ Maskaev and cruiserweight Vassily “The Tiger” Jirov as the only Kazakh-born professional world boxing champions.
On the fast track outside of the ring, too, Beibut has a law degree, speaks five languages (Russian, Kazakh, English, Turkish and Uzbek), and along with his brother, Chingis, own a full-service boxing promotional company based in Las Vegas, NV. KZ Event Productions fighters include unbeaten, WBA #9-rated light heavyweight Gayrat Ahmedov (15-0-1, 10 KOs) and undefeated welterweight, WBA #14 Ravshan Hudaynazrov.
KZ Event Productions, Inc.
Based in Las Vegas, KZ Event Productions is owned by the Shumenov brothers, World Boxing Association light heavyweight champion, Beibut, and Chingis. KZ Event Productions is a full service, international boxing promotional company. Go to www.kzeventproductions.com for more information about the company and its fighters.
Juan Carlos Burgos ready to battle for Featherweight World Title
Orange, CA (August 26,2010) – #1 WBC Featherweight contender Juan Carlos Burgos (25-0, 18 KOs) is ready and willing to fight and he made it clear upon hearing yesterday’s news that the World Boxing Council has mandated him for a bout for the Featherweight World Title against an opponent that has yet to be named. The announcement was made on the heels of the news that current featherweight champion Elio Rojas, of the Dominican Republic, suffered a severe injury that will prevent him from fighting for several months.
“While I wish a speedy recovery for Elio Rojas, I have to admit that his ailment puts me in a position that I have to capitalize on,” said Burgos from his native Tijuana, Mexico. “I was waiting for my opportunity, I knew that it was a matter of time until my dream became a reality. All my hard work will finally pay off, I plan to make my family, promoters and team proud and continue with a family tradition to bring a championship belt to the dinner table very soon. I think I have championship blood running through my veins and this one will be for my uncle.”
Juan Carlos is the nephew of former IBF light flyweight champion Victor Burgos who ferociously battled Vic Darchinyan for 12 hard rounds at the Home Depot Center in 2007. The aforementioned encounter resulted in a near death emergency brain surgery, a miraculous recovery, and ultimately retirement from the sport.
“I’m proud of what Juan Carlos has accomplished to date. He is one of the hardest training fighters that I have ever known. He has earned his spot with hard work and tremendous effort and I believe that he will be a great WBC champion,” added Ken Thompson, president and founder of Thompson Boxing Promotions.
“Juan Carlos is a tremendous young man and excellent fighter. He has absolute dedication to the sport and it has shown. Juan Carlos has made the most of his opportunities so far, so we see no reason why he shouldn’t be successful with this one. We look forward to seeing his hand raised in victory once again, this time as the WBC Featherweight Champion of the World,” said co promoter Art Pelullo, president of Banner Promotions.
“It’s an honor for me to be able to fight for the World Boxing Council featherweight belt and I will do the title justice by giving everyone a convincing victory. I am ready to fight anybody,” concluded Juan Carlos Burgos.
USMC Sgt. Jim Smith living out dream on ‘Labor Daze’ show Biosse-King headline Friday night’s CES show at Twin River Event Center, RI
PROVIDENCE (Aug. 30, 2010) – U.S. Marine Sgt. James Smith has been in the ring at most Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES) pro boxing shows at Twin River since 2008 as part of the Honor Guard accompanying the singing of the National Anthem. This Friday night, however, Smith will be out of uniform and wearing trunks for his pro debut.
Undefeated Providence super middleweight Vladine Biosse (7-0, 4 KOs) leads the next generation of New England fighters into action on Friday night’s “Labor Daze” card, presented by CES, at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, RI.
The Cape Verdean native Biosse (7-0, 4 KOs), a former University of Rhode Island football player, defends his EBA title against Ibahiem “The Almighty” King (7-4, 2 KOs) in the 8-round main event.
Smith, a super welterweight matched against Shawn Pyles (0-1) in a 4-round bout, is originally from Portland, Maine. The 26-year-old has been an active U.S. Marine for the last seven years. He is presently stationed in Rhode Island — living in Warwick with his wife and two children — attached to the Rhode Island Reserves assisting with training for upcoming deployment overseas. Sgt. Smith has done two tours in Iraq.
Sgt. Smith has been on leave since Aug. 23 training for his pro boxing debut, something he has dreamed about since he was a little boy. “I’ve been a gym rat since I was four or five,” he explained. “I remember sitting on my father’s shoulders watching Joey Gamache win the world title (June 13, 1992 when Maine’s favorite son Gamache knocked out Chil Sung Chin in the ninth round at Cumberland Civic Center in Portland). Fighting as a pro has been on my mind since then.”
In 2009, Sgt. Smith captured top honors in the 152-pound decision of the New England Golden Gloves, defeating Michael Andrade. “I’m through with being nervous; now I’m just anxious to get in the ring and succeed in my pro debut,” James added. “I’m taking a realistic approach to boxing. I know what it takes to be world champion having grown up watching Joey Gamache and Marcus Davis (now a UFC star). Maybe someday I’ll get a title shot; I’m only 26 and have some time. I’ll see where it goes.”
Other 4-round bouts on the card include Fall River (MA) super welterweight Dustin Reinhold (2-1, 2 KOs) vs. Providence’s pro-debuting Rameil Shelton, a senior at Tolman High in Pawtucket; Woonsocket (RI) super middleweight Joe Gardner (5-1-1, 1 KO) vs. New Bedford’s (MA) Eric Pinarreta (2-4, 2 KOs); New Bedford (MA) super lightweight Jonathan Vazquez (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Tony Marks (0-4); Providence firefighter and cruiserweight Eric Estrada (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Tauheed Wheeler (0-3); and Barnstable (MA) heavyweight Jesse “Bad News” Barboza (3-1, 3 KOs) vs. Antonio Robertson (0-1). All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets for “Labor Daze,” priced at $35.00, $50.00, $75.00 and $125.00, are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going online at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at Twin River’s Players Club booth at Twin River, or any TicketMaster location. Ticket-buyers who purchase a VIP seat will also receive a 25%-off coupon for Fred & Steve’s Steakhouse, valid for 30 days following the fight.
Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or the Twin River Event Center (877.82.RIVER/ www.twinriver.com) for more information. Doors open at 6:00PM/ET, first bout at 7:00 PM/ET.
(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “Labor Daze.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied at all times by an adult and they must enter through the West entrance.)