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Beibut Shumenov says Glen Johnson ducked him
From fight news:
Light heavyweight sensation Beibut Shumenov, arguably the most ambitious fighter in the world, has targeted WBO champion Zsolt “Firebird” Erdei after his May 9th clash against former IBF super middleweight champion Alejandro “Naco” Berrio, outdoors at Khadjimukan Stadium in Shumenov’s hometown of Chimkent, Kazakhstan.
The star-studded May 9 show is being presented by KZ Event Productions, owned by the Shumenov brothers, Beibut and Chingis, and headlined by Shumenov-Berrio in the 12-round main event.
2004 Kazakhstan Olympian Shumenov (7-0, 5 KOs), 2008 WBC Asian Boxing Council Organization’s Boxer of the Year, is already rated No. 8 by the WBA, No. 9 by the WBO and No. 16 by the WBC. His WBO Asia Pacific, WBC Asian Boxing Council and PABA Interim titles will also be on the line against Colombian knockout specialist Berrio (28-5, 27 KOs), rated No. 9 by the IBF and No. 11 by the WBC.
“We contacted Universum about Beibut fighting Erdei,” Chingis explained. “They promised to get back to us but never did. We’re not looking past Berrio by any means, he’s very dangerous, but we want a title shot against Erdei. Beibut has already beaten one world champion (Montell Griffin), as well as a world title challenger (Epifanio Mendoza) in his last fight, and now he’s fighting another former world champion, Berrio. We’ve challenged former world champions Clinton Woods, Glen Johnson, Julio Cesar Gonzalez and Byron Mitchell. None of them want to fight Beibut.
“Title contending opportunities should be about the quality, not the number, of opponents fought. Beibut’s only had seven pro fights, true, but look at whom he’s beaten. People forget that in 1978, Leon Spinks had only seven pro fights (6-0-1) when he beat the great Muhammad Ali for the world heavyweight title. We never wanted to fight guys just to build-up Beibut’s record, rather, opponents with belts or former world champions. There’s no excuse because we’re self-promoted, so there are no middle men to deal with. Erdei has a title defense scheduled August 22 against TBA. We’ll be ready, willing and able for him.”
Light heavyweight sensation Beibut Shumenov, arguably the most ambitious fighter in the world, has targeted WBO champion Zsolt “Firebird” Erdei after his May 9th clash against former IBF super middleweight champion Alejandro “Naco” Berrio, outdoors at Khadjimukan Stadium in Shumenov’s hometown of Chimkent, Kazakhstan.
The star-studded May 9 show is being presented by KZ Event Productions, owned by the Shumenov brothers, Beibut and Chingis, and headlined by Shumenov-Berrio in the 12-round main event.
2004 Kazakhstan Olympian Shumenov (7-0, 5 KOs), 2008 WBC Asian Boxing Council Organization’s Boxer of the Year, is already rated No. 8 by the WBA, No. 9 by the WBO and No. 16 by the WBC. His WBO Asia Pacific, WBC Asian Boxing Council and PABA Interim titles will also be on the line against Colombian knockout specialist Berrio (28-5, 27 KOs), rated No. 9 by the IBF and No. 11 by the WBC.
“We contacted Universum about Beibut fighting Erdei,” Chingis explained. “They promised to get back to us but never did. We’re not looking past Berrio by any means, he’s very dangerous, but we want a title shot against Erdei. Beibut has already beaten one world champion (Montell Griffin), as well as a world title challenger (Epifanio Mendoza) in his last fight, and now he’s fighting another former world champion, Berrio. We’ve challenged former world champions Clinton Woods, Glen Johnson, Julio Cesar Gonzalez and Byron Mitchell. None of them want to fight Beibut.
“Title contending opportunities should be about the quality, not the number, of opponents fought. Beibut’s only had seven pro fights, true, but look at whom he’s beaten. People forget that in 1978, Leon Spinks had only seven pro fights (6-0-1) when he beat the great Muhammad Ali for the world heavyweight title. We never wanted to fight guys just to build-up Beibut’s record, rather, opponents with belts or former world champions. There’s no excuse because we’re self-promoted, so there are no middle men to deal with. Erdei has a title defense scheduled August 22 against TBA. We’ll be ready, willing and able for him.”
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