Shumenov Makes Maiden Defense Tonight on ESPN2

LEMOORE, CALIFORNIA — WBA Light Heavyweight Champion Beibut Shumenov will attempt to further legitimize his claim to the 175-pound throne tonight as he takes on mandatory challenger Vyacheslav Uzelkov on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights emanating from the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, California. Fighters weighed in Thursday afternoon at the casino’s Den Sports Bar.

Shumenov (9-1, 6 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada by way of Chimkent, Kazakhstan claimed the title in just his tenth pro bout with a highly questionable split decision over Gabriel Campillo in January. Last August, Campillo had scored a closely contested majority decision over Shumenov in Kazakhstan. In that bout, a knockdown scored against an off balance Shumenov in large part decided the result.

Despite the controversial scoring in the second Campillo bout, Shumenov did show his heart in surviving a vicious barrage in the ninth to find success in the championship rounds. It is that mentality and ability to persevere that may lead to some exciting fights and should eventually endear him to American fight fans. Shumenov, who will also be defending the IBA title he claimed with a devastating knockout of Byron Mitchell in May of last year, weighed in at 175-pounds.

Uzelkov (22-0, 14 KOs) of Vinitza, Ukraine loomed as the next official challenger while Shumenov and Campillo were battling it out for the WBA title over the course of the last year. The result that jumps off of the page on Uzelkov’s pro ledger is a sixth-round stoppage over a then undefeated Campillo to claim the regional WBA Intercontinental title in 2007. Uzelkov continued to flex his punching power by scoring stoppages in four of his last five fights. Uzelkov, the WBA #2 ranked light heavyweight, weighed in at 172-pounds.

Another factor that could play into how tonight’s card plays out is the weather. The boxing action will take place outdoors in a specially constructed stadium instead of the cozy indoor bingo hall as is the norm. According to Weather.com, it will be 95º in Lemoore at the 6 PM first bell. Add in the bright ESPN2 ring lights and conditions inside the squared circle will likely be less than comfortable. By 8 PM, when the main event is scheduled to begin, the forecast predicts an 89º temperature.

WBO #3/IBF #15 ranked super bantamweight Rico Ramos will appear in the televised co-feature, taking on Cuahtemoc Vargas (15-3-1, 10 KOs) of Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico in an eight-round bout. Ramos (16-0, 9 KOs) of Pico Rivera, California will be defending the WBO NABO Youth title he won late last year. Vargas, a member of the famed fighting family that includes former titleholder Gregorio Vargas, scaled 121.5-pounds, while Ramos came in at 121 even.

Gayrat Ahmedov (14-0-1, 9 KOs) of Las Vegas by way of Andijan, Uzbekistan goes against Dallas Vargas (22-4, 16 KOs) of Toledo, Ohio in a ten-round light heavyweight fight. Ahmedov, the WBA #9 ranked light heavyweight, is 2-0 since moving to the United States. Vargas ended a nearly two-year layoff with a third-round kayo of Kevin Engel to score a minor upset in February of last year. However, Vargas, who weighed in at 174.4, has not fought since. Ahmedov, holder of two regional titles not on the line, weighed in at 174.2-pounds.

2008 U.S. Olympian Shawn Estrada (6-0, 6 KOs) of East Los Angeles, California will end a twelve-month layoff by taking on late replacement Eddie Hunter (3-3-1, 1 KO) of Kent, Washington in a four-round super middleweight fight. Estrada’s career has been sidetracked by a hand injury which forced the cancellation of several scheduled bouts over the last year. Hunter, whose three losses came against prospects, weighed in at 167.5-pounds. Estrada, who had been scheduled to fight Alex Armenta, weighed in at 167.2.

Michael Ruiz Jr. (3-0, 1 KO) of Fresno, California will take on Juan Tepoz (4-3-1) of Santa Rosa, California in a bantamweight rematch scheduled for four or six rounds. Ruiz, a decorated former amateur star, got off the deck in the opening round of their first meeting last month to box his way to a four-round unanimous decision. Ruiz, who had been originally scheduled to fight Adrian Aleman, weighed in at 118-pounds, while Tepoz scaled 120.6.

Stan Martyniouk (9-0, 1 KO) of Sacramento, California will meet Jonathan Bobadilla (4-2) of Los Angeles in a lightweight swing bout that may be four or six-rounds depending on the length of the other fights. Martyniouk is coming off of his toughest test to date, as he came off of the canvas in the first round to outbox a determined Brian Ramirez en route to a six-round split decision in May. Bobadilla scored a spilt decision over the same Brian Ramirez back in 2007, but has largely been inactive since. Martyniouk weighed in at 135-pounds, while Bobadilla scaled 134.8.

Welterweight prospect Ravshan Hudaynazarov (12-0, 10 KOs) of Las Vegas by way of Andijan will open things up in a step up bout against Pavel Miranda (16-5-1, 8 KOs) of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico scheduled for eight. Hudaynazarov, who along with the aforementioned Gayrat Ahmedov is promoted by Beibut and Chingis Shumenov’s KZ Event Productions, weighed in at 148.4-pounds. Miranda, who scaled 148.2, has hit a skid, losing four out of his last six and three by stoppage.

Tickets for the event, promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions and KZ Event Productions, are available online at Tickets.com.

Quick Weigh-in Results:

WBA Light Heavyweight Championship
IBA Light Heavyweight Championship, 12 Rounds
Shumenov 175
Uzelkov 172

WBO NABO Youth Super Bantamweight Championship, 8 Rounds
Ramos 121
Vargas 121.5

Super Middleweights, 4 Rounds
Estrada 167.2
Hunter 167.5

Light Heavyweights, 10 Rounds
Ahmedov 174.2
Vargas 174.4

Super Bantamweights, 4 or 6 Rounds
Ruiz, Jr. 118
Tepoz 120.6

Welterweights, 8 Rounds
Hudaynazarov 148.4
Miranda 148.2

Lightweights, 4 or 6 Rounds
Martyniouk 135
Bobadilla 134.8

Photos by Chris Ronquillo/FUNews.net

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.