LAS VEGAS (June 30, 2011) – Two-time world title challenger Danny “The Bronx Bomber” Santiago is hoping the third time’s the charm for him when he challenges World Boxing Association/International Boxing Association Light Heavyweight World Champion Beibut Shumenov, headlining the “Fire and Fury” pro boxing card, July 29 on the TeleFutura’s Solo Boxeo Tecate show, airing live from South Point Hotel Casino in Las Vegas.
“Fire& Fury” is being promoted by KZ Event Productions, which is owned and operated by the Shumenov brothers, Beibut and Chingis, in Las Vegas. Shumenov-Santiago is somewhat of a boxing anomaly, featuring a pair of college graduates in a world title fight.
WBA #15 ranked Santiago (31-4-1, 19 KOs), fighting out of Ocala, Florida, is a two-time world title challenger. His signature victory was a fourth-round technical knockout of 30-1 Elvir Muriqi. Santiago was also featured on the third season of The Contender reality television series.
The Bronx native who lives in Ocala (FL) has had two proposed fights fall out, including one against Roy Jones, Jr. “I promised myself and my family that I would continue boxing as long as I still enjoyed it,” the University of South Florida graduate (business & accounting major) explained. “I still do. I opened a business – a gym around boxing (Central Florida Boxing – www.centralfloridaboxing.com) –to have something to fall back on when I retire from boxing. It’s turned out be a great thing. I had those two fights fall through but things like that happen when you’re self-promoted. But I stayed in my gym, working hard, and now I’m blessed to have this opportunity.”
Shumenov (11-1, 7 KOs), the 2004 Kazakhstan Olympian who is now fighting out of Las Vegas, set a light heavyweight record for capturing a world title in the fewest career fights, 10, when (Jan. 10, 2010) he won a 12-round decision againstGabriel Campillo in Las Vegas. Shumenov has successfully defended his WBA/IBA titles twice against No. 1 mandatory challenger Viacheslav Uzelkov (UDEC12) and three-time world champion William Joppy (KO6) last January in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. In his 11 pro fights, Beibut has defeated four world champions (Campillo, Joppy, Byron Mitchell and Montell Griffin) and two world title challengers (Uzelkov and Epifanio Mendoza).
“I don’t know Beibut but he’s obviously a unique individual having already accomplished what he has in 11 pro fights,” Santiago remarked. “But this is a business and I will do what I have to do in the ring against him. Boxing is what we’ve both chosen to do. Fighting is easy; it’s everything else in this business that’s difficult. Dealing with his people, though, I can tell you, they’re as professional as any I’ve ever worked with in boxing. It may be surprising for me to say this but, they’re very honest, first-class people. Everything they’ve said has actually happened.”
Santiago has more professional ring experience than Shumenov by 10 years, 24 fights and 97 rounds. Danny has lost two world light heavyweight title fights, both in 2007, to Zsolt Erdei (WBO) and Antonio Tarver (IBO).
“I don’t really have very much of an experience advantage over him,” Danny added.”Don’t look past his Olympics experience, on the grandest stage, fighting the best in the world. I may have more pro fights than him but he’s fought the same class of fighters, pro and Olympians, as I have.
“I’m not trying to butter him up but Shumenov is very exciting, smart, and strong. And just look at him – he’s a ‘brick-house!’ I need to be in the best shape of my life for this fight to fulfill the dream I had as a kid that I now have as a grown adult (win a world title).”
“Fire& Fury” is being presented by KZ Event Productions in association with Golden Boy Promotions, Don Chargin Promotions, Guilty Boxing, Solo Boxeo Tecate and South Point Hotel Casino.
Tickets, starting at $25.00, are available to purchase at South Point’s box office, on line at http://www.southpointeventscenter.com/events.php, or by calling 1.702.797.8055.
Doors open at 5:30 PM/PT, first bout at 6:00 PM/PT, first TV bout at 8:30 PM/PT
Go on line to www.KZEventProductions.comfor additional information about “Fire & Fury,” Shumenov or any of the KZEvent Productions fighters.
KZ Event Productions, Inc.
KZ Event Productions is a full service, international boxing promotional company in Las Vegas, Nevada. Owned and operated by Beibut and Chingis Shumenov, its growing stable of champions include WBA/IBA light heavyweight World Champion Beibut Shumenov, WBA FEDALATIN welterweight champion Ravshan Hudaynazarov, WBA International light heavyweight champion Gayrat Ahmedov and WBA International light welterweight champion Alexandr Zhuravskiy.
RIP James “Bouie” Fisher (1928-2011)
On behalf of the Fisher family, it is with great sadness that DiBella Entertainment announces the passing of legendary boxing trainer, James “Bouie” Fisher. He was 83.
Fisher, best known for his work with Bernard Hopkins, was a mainstay in the Philadelphia boxing scene for decades. He won the 2001 Eddie Futch-John F.X. Condon Award, presented by the Boxing Writers’ Association of America annually to honor the year’s best trainer.
Fisher leaves behind his wife, Peggy; 8 children: Andre, Bernadette, Bernard, Cecilia, James, Josephine, Valerie, and Victoria; and 15 grand children.
DiBella Entertainment joins the boxing world in mourning the tragic loss of this great man. Please keep Bouie and the Fisher family in your prayers at this difficult time.
Memorial service arrangements will be announced in the coming days.
MEXICAN JAUNT SETS UP BUCKLAND TITLE TILT
GARY BUCKLAND believes his victory on the Saul Alvarez-Ryan Rhodes undercard is the boost he needed to defeat British super-featherweight champion Gary Sykes, again.
The Hatton Promotions hopeful outpointed local Jose Roberto Gonzalez on the bill in Guadalajara earlier this month.
Buckland, 25, is back home in Cardiff waiting for the results of next month’s purse bid for his clash against Sykes, which the British Boxing Board of Control have ordered.
Gary knocked out Sykes in 45 seconds back in November when he landed the £32,000 winners’ cheque in Prizefighter.
Buckland, victorious in 23 of his 25 fights said: “I have been waiting a while to prove my win over Sykes was no fluke and the Mexican trip tuned me up perfectly.
“It was a fantastic experience fighting on a major overseas card and everybody made me so welcome.
“It was a great experience being around Ryan Rhodes and his team. It has given me motivation to be in my own big fights.”
Hatton Promotions CEO Gareth Williams who accompanied him on the trip added: “We will continue to give our fighters opportunities to fight on big bills around the world.
“His achievement was all the more remarkable because he didn’t only have to cope with a very tough opponent in front of his own fans, but extreme temperatures and altitude.
“It will hold Gary in good stead and I hope he will top his own big cards one day.”
He was only the second Welshman to box on Mexican soil, emulating Howard Winston who lost a word title fight against Vincente Salvidar way back in October 1967.
Hatton Promotions president Ricky Hatton said: “It was a tremendous experience for Gary and I know he enjoyed the trip.
“What is there to stop him going back to Mexico one day and winning or defending the world super-featherweight title?
“If Gary keeps winning we will make sure he gets the chance to challenge for major titles, and taking the British title from Sykes.”
The clash between Sykes and Buckland is expected to take place before the end of October.
Toney, Shamrock First Face-to-Face Ends in Near Brawl
From the files of “what did you think was going to happen with these two in the same room?” comes news that Saturday’s meet and greet and photo-opportunity face off at the newly opened IFC Gym in Van Nuys, California, between boxing great James Toney and MMA great Ken Shamrock featured the two nearly coming to blows.
Toney and Shamrock have agreed to meet in a modified rules MMA showdown some time this fall. While several cities and venues are still vying to host the fight, both combatants have already signed on the dotted line. Saturday was their first meeting since they agreed to face each other.
As per the norm for both men, the conference began with ugly NSFW barbs back and forth, but then nearly escalated into chaos.
Despite being held at 8pm on a Saturday, the promotional event garnered 100 fans and media. None left disappointed. Clips of the near brawl have gone viral on the web, with a few threatening to over-run their servers before being pulled down.
Shamrock seems to have the recipe for rattling Toney, who had to be restrained several times.
RESULTS OFFICIAL WEIGH IN A PUÑO LIMPIO FROM PUERTO RICO
PR BEST BOXING PROMOTIONS INC
“A PUÑO LIMPIO”
Friday, July 1, 2011
COLISEO TOMAS DONES, FAJARDO, PUERTO RICO
BLUE RED
(113lbs – 8 Rounds)
SHAWN NICHOL – Will weigh in later VS. MCWILLIAMS ARROYO – 112 lbs.
Lakewood, Colorado (5-5, 5KOs) Fajardo, Puerto Rico (8-1, 7KOs)
(123lbs – 4 Rounds)
EDUARDO MELÉNDEZ – 120 lbs. VS. CAMILO PÉREZ – 122 lbs.
Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico (4-8, 1KOs) Carolina, Puerto Rico (3-0, 3KOs)
(Heavyweight – 6 Rounds)
REGGIE PEÑA – 204 lbs. VS. CARLOS NEGRÓN – 206 lbs.
Ocala, Florida (6-7, 1KOs) Villalba, Puerto Rico (12-0, 8KOs)
(135lbs – 6 Rounds)
ALBERTO MERCADO – 133 lbs. VS. REGINO CANALES – 135 lbs.
Humacao, Puerto Rico (3-0, 1KOs) Río Piedras, Puerto Rico (2-1, 0KOs)
(151lbs – 6 Rounds)
CARLOS GARCÍA – 151 lbs. VS. CARLOS RAMOS – 148 lbs.
San Juan, Puerto Rico (6-9-1, 6KOs) Río Grande, Puerto Rico (3-1, 3KOs)
(128lbs – 4 Rounds)
HIPÓLITO RIVERA – 128 lbs. VS. ISRAEL SUÁREZ – 127 lbs.
Río Piedras, Puerto Rico (1-3, 1KOs) Fajardo, Puerto Rico (3-3-1, 0KOs)
(112lbs– 4 Rounds)
BRIAN GONZÁLEZ – 116 lbs. VS. ISRAEL VÁZQUEZ – 112 lbs.
Isabela, Puerto Rico (Pro Debut) Bayamón, Puerto Rico (2-0-2, 2KOs)
(140lbs – 4 Rounds)
JOSÉ MORALES – 139 lbs. VS. RAFAEL GONZÁLEZ – 138 lbs.
San Juan, Puerto Rico (0-1) Caguas, Puerto Rico (1-0, 1KOs)
(175lbs – 4 Rounds)
ÁLEX VÁZQUEZ – 174 lbs. VS. ALEX VÁZQUEZ – 175 lbs.
Las Piedras, Puerto Rico (Pro Debut) Fajardo, Puerto Rico (Pro Debut)
TV STARTS AT 9:00 P.M. ON WAPA AMERICA