Cruiserweight contender BJ Flores (31-1-1) is in the final stages of his training camp for his July 25th showdown against former light heavyweight champion Beibut Shumenov (15-2). The fight takes place at the Palms Casino and Resort in Las Vegas and will be broadcast on NBC Sports as part of Al Haymon's Premier Boxing Champions series. The fight will be for the interim WBA cruiserweight title.
LAS VEGAS - Former world champion Beibut Shumenov (15-2, 10 KOs) hosted a media workout at a private gym in Las Vegas on Tuesday as he prepares for his Premier Boxing Champions on NBCSN showdown with B.J. Flores (31-1-1, 20 KOs) on Saturday, July 25 live from the Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT with a battle of undefeated cruiserweights between Jordan Shimmell (19-0, 16 KOs) and Isiah Thomas (14-0, 6 KOs).
Promoter Kathy Duva of Main Events does not feel threatened by the recently announced event for July 25 at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas. The Palms card will be a "Premier Boxing Champions" televised event on NBC Sports. In the headliner, cruiserweights BJ Flores and Beibut Shumenov will do battle. Both boxers reside in Las Vegas.
On the night of July 24th in Las Vegas, Main Events is staging a card at the Mandalay Bay featuring light heavyweight kingpin Sergey Kovalev, who will be facing his IBF mandatory Nadjib Mohemmedi. Across town at the Palms Casino and Resort, a Premier Boxing Champions card is taking place with a cruiserweight battle between BJ Flores and former 175-pound champion Beibut Shumenov. Neither fight figures to draw all that well, but it still splits whatever market there may be.
LAS VEGAS - Former world champion Beibut Shumenov (15-2, 10 KOs) meets cruiserweight contender and NBC boxing analyst B.J. Flores (31-1-1, 20 KOs) on Saturday, July 25 on Premier Boxing Champions on NBCSN live from The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas with televised coverage beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The evening's televised co-feature will showcase a pair of undefeated rising contenders as Jordan Shimmell (19-0, 16 KOs) faces Isiah Thomas (14-0, 6 KOs). "I'm excited to get back in the ring July 25th on NBCSN to be a part of this huge fight," said Shumenov. "Flores is a good fighter with experience, so I expect a very good, entertaining fight. I am very happy to be fighting in Las Vegas. I am enjoying working with my head coach, Ismael Salas, and my two assistant coaches, Jeff Grmoja and Rodney Crisler. Every day has been productive and I've been learning something new."
A planned cruiserweight bout between Beibut Shumenov and BJ Flores—slated to take place on June 20 in Las Vegas as the chief support to a PBC (Premier Boxing Champions) on NBC event—was scrapped after Shumenov suffered an untimely injury during training camp. Flores is now apparently off the card altogether—at least in the capacity of a competing fighter—as he will instead wait on a new fight date.
The date and venue has been set. BoxingScene.com has been advised that a cruiserweight battle between BJ Flores (31-1-1, 20KOs) and Beibut Shumenov (15-2, 10KOs) has been finalized for June 20th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, with the vacant interim-WBA championship at stake. The Premier Boxing Champions card is headlined by a welterweight bout between former champions Adrien Broner and Shawn Porter.