Comments Thread For: Beibut Shumenov: In Control By Giving Up Control

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Jake Donovan - There’s a touch of irony to how Beibut Shumenov managed to land in a light heavyweight title unification bout with Bernard Hopkins.

The once-beaten southpaw enters his eighth title fight in just 16 pro fights. Do the math and you find that literally half of his pro career has been spent on the championship stage by the time the opening bell sounds for their Showtime-televised main event Saturday in Washington D.C.

For most of his career, Shumenov served as his own promoter and the captain of his ship. Much like Hopkins, the Kazakh boxer has done it his way. The biggest drawback to his career thus far, however, has been the fact that his 15 pro fights to date have been spray painted over a seven-year span. Saturday marks just his fifth title defense covering four-plus years.

Shumenov (14-1, 9KO) blames the politics of the sport for not remaining more active. He did his best to stay busy, as evidenced by title defenses over mediocre competition. It was the big fights that failed to materialize, though, to explain the lapses in activity. [Click Here To Read More]

[Hougigo]

So at one point, him and his trainer double teamed his wife while his promoter watched?

Anyway, dudes need to realize you can't make it big by starting off promoting yourself

[anonymous2.0]

I just don't think (even with a gold medal background) that 15 fights is enough to prepare you for Bernard Hopkins. What was it I saw recently that compared rounds from each fighter, with Bernard having 450+ and Beibut only having 60ish(?). I really don't think there's anything Beibut can bring that Bernard hasn't seen or experienced that will trouble him. Speed? Bernard has seen it. Power? Bernard has seen it. Skills? Bernard has seen it. I honestly can't think of one intangible that Beibut has that Bernard can't overcome.

On the other hand I think Bernard is going to bring a fight that Beibut has never experienced and just beat him using is experience, physicality, reputation, and mentally. I'm fully in the Bernard camp for this.

[Khmelnytsky]

Good article but one correction Shumenov isn't a southpaw.

[Mr. Philadel]

this is the type of fighter I would NORMALLY take under my wing as a fan....too bad he's fighting my all time fav on Saturday night....Shumey gonna get schooled and take the L and then see if Chad Dawson is REALLY done.....just thinking out loud

[Citizen Koba]

I just don't think (even with a gold medal background) that 15 fights is enough to prepare you for Bernard Hopkins. What was it I saw recently that compared rounds from each fighter, with Bernard having 450+ and Beibut only having 60ish(?). I really don't think there's anything Beibut can bring that Bernard hasn't seen or experienced that will trouble him. Speed? Bernard has seen it. Power? Bernard has seen it. Skills? Bernard has seen it. I honestly can't think of one intangible that Beibut has that Bernard can't overcome.

On the other hand I think Bernard is going to bring a fight that Beibut has never experienced and just beat him using is experience, physicality, reputation, and mentally. I'm fully in the Bernard camp for this.

Who told you he got a Gold medal? He lost in the second round in Athens 2004 (though claims to have injured his hand) and did little else of note as an amateur - wouldn't be at all surprised if his family bought him the place on the team anyway. I'm not saying he's terrible, Beibuts actually fairly good..at least he has some technique and power, but he simply isn't a top level fighter.

Unless some disaster afflicts Hopkins or his age suddenly catches up with him Hopkins smothers Shumenov to a dull UD.

BTW LOL at Shumenov if he thinks (and I doubt he's that naive - guy's apparently trained as a lawyer) that his career is gonna take off with GBP if (when) Hopkins mauls him.

The only thing GBP / SHO wanted him for was his belt, which they've used as part of the plan to wrest control of the division away from HBO. Watch him get dropped quicker than one of Wilder's journeymen once he's served his purpose.

Hell there's even YT footage of Hopkins saying exactly that to Fat Dan - that the only reason Beibut was signed was to make the Hopkins fight.

Irony? They signed him so he didn't go running off to HBO if, by some miracle, he pulled off the upset - don't see anything especially ironic there...just an immediate rematch.

[Dean_Razorback]

it is just me or shumenov looks like an asian brandon rios?

[jas]

its kinda hard to study for bernard hopkins.

bhop is the kind of fighter you can over-study for.

[brett3154]

Shumenov broke his hand in his Olympic bid. I'm in the minority about this fight. While I do think BHop's experience will help him drag this into the later rounds, I don't see him winning. A true legend they all have to end some time.

[giacomino]

The judges gave Shumenov Campillo's title in 2010 and he's fought absolutely nobody with a pulse in 4 1/2 years. Perfect preparation for fighting Hopkins