Beibut Shumenov Goes Back to the Future

Ready to challenge world cruiserweight champions

(L) Beibut Shumenov sets up his power punch with a stiff jab against Bobby Thomas Jr. (all pictures courtesy of Ed de la Vega) LAS VEGAS (December 23, 2014) - Combining the invaluable experience he gained as world light heavyweight champion with a different style of boxing introduced to him by his new head trainer, Ismael Salas, Beibut Shumenov used his impressive cruiserweight debut Dec. 13 to prove his legitimacy as a world title contender in the 200-pound division. Shumenov (15-2, 10 KOs), a former World Boxing Association (WBA) light heavyweight champion and 2004 Kazakhstan Olympian, outclassed opponent Bobby Thomas, Jr. (14-3, 9 KOs) on his way to victory by way of a fifth-round technical knockout.   "It's much easier for me fighting at 200 pounds than 175," Shumenov explained. "My body couldn't take it anymore. When I first came to America seven years ago, I planned to fight as a heavyweight or cruiserweight because I weighed 240-245 pounds. When I moved here to Las Vegas everybody my size were super middleweights and light heavyweights. The decision was made then for me to fight as a light heavyweight. "I'm not making excuses but I lost 55 pounds for my last fight. I saw opportunities but my body failed me. I wanted to throw punches but my body didn't respond. I made a decision to move up to cruiserweight and also added a great head coach, Ismael Salas. He teaches the Cuban boxing style and (assistant trainer) Jeff (Grmoja) uses an old-school American style. And Rodney Crisler (team member) shares his knowledge, too. I have a great team supporting me." The 31-year-old Shumenov, currently the No. 2 rated cruiserweight in the WBA, captured the WBA light heavyweight title January 29, 2010 with a 12-round decision over Gabriel Campillo in only his 10th professional fightto establish the fewest-fights record for a world light heavyweight champion. Five successful title defenses followed but the muscular Shumenov had more and more problems making weight, in addition to being self-trained in his last three fights prior to last Saturday's in Las Vegas. Equally important as moving up in weight to avoid sapping his strength was adding Salas to his corner. Salas came to the United States 25 years ago and he has trained the likes of Guillermo Rigondeaux, Yuriokis Gamboa, Danny Green, Jesse Vargas and Jorge Linares. The Cuban boxing style Salas teaches is similar to what Shumenov learned in Kazakhstan developing through its then Soviet Union boxing program. Positive chemistry between the two was immediate and early dividends were evident in Shumenov's fight against Thomas.   Post-fight celebration (L-R) cut-man Jacob "Stitch" Duran, Beibut Shumenov, head trainer Ismael Salas, team member Rodney Crisler and Beibut's younger brother, Chingas Shumenov. "Most importantly," Shumenov noted, "I followed the instructions of my coach in this fight. For us, it wasn't important to knockout my opponent in the first round. This fight was a test for my new style in a real fight. I used my new tools - footwork and more angles to punch. My body listened this fight and it did everything my head wanted to be done. I'm still in the learning process, though." "I'm very happy that Beibut was so comfortable and that he stuck to the game plan from the first round until the end," Salas commented after the fight. "Every fight is a learning experience. We liked what we saw during the fight; Beibut did everything I asked of him." Grmoja (far left) has worked with Shumenov for several years and he was amazed at how well Shumenov and Salas clicked in such a relatively short training period. "They only had 78 days working together," Grmoja added. "Beibut completely changed his style and during the fight he didn't go back to fighting the old way like so many guys do. He didn't fight off balance, throw wild punches, or keep his head up and his hands down. He will win the world cruiserweight title in 2015 to become a two-division world champion." The reigning world cruiserweight champions are WBA Denis Lebedev (Russia), IBF Yoan Pablo Hernandez (Germany), WBC Krzysztof Wlodarczyr and WBO Marco Huck (Germany). "My power is stronger at cruiserweight because there's no stress on my body to make weight like there was at light heavyweight," Shumenov concluded. "Hopefully, I will get an opportunity early next year to fight for a world title. I'm ready! If not, I want to stay busy until my adviser, Al Haymon, gets me a world cruiserweight title shot." Fans may friend Beibut Shumenov on his Facebook Fan Page atwww.facebook.com/BeibutShumenov.

Cuban trainer Ismael Salas in Beibut Shumenov's corner

Beibut Shumenov (R) in action (photo by Emily Harney) LAS VEGAS (Dec. 8, 2014) - After being self-trained for his last three fights, former World Boxing Association (WBA) Light Heavyweight World champion Beibut Shumenov (14-2, 9 KOs) is now working in Las Vegas with highly-regarded Cuban head trainer Ismael Salas. Salas, who has trained world champions such as Guillermo Rigondeaux, Yuriokis Gamboa, Danny Green, Jesse Vargas and Jorge Linares, is preparing Shumenov for his cruiserweight debut this Saturday night (Dec. 13) against West Virginia fighter Bobby Thomas Jr. (14-2, 9 KOs) in an eight-round bout for the NABA US title, on the Golden Boy Promotions-presented Khan-Alexander card at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. "I've had a lot of changes after my last fight," the 31-year-old Shumenov said. "I trained myself for the last three fights but now I have added a great trainer, Ismael Salas, to my team. "I come from Kazakhstan and I was taught the Soviet Union boxing program.  The Cuban boxing program has a lot of similarities, so, for me it was easy to pick up Ismael's teaching method.  The addition of Ismael to my team, along with a few other minor changes, has brought about a real positive environment. I look forward again to going to the gym every day and having fun."   "There was chemistry between us from the beginning," Salas explained. "In Beibut, I found the old Russian and Cuban boxing fundamentals, so, it was easy for me to approach Beibut's style but in a professional manner. We talk with all key members of Team Shumenov to discuss his weekly training, including sparring, to do everything the right way. "We started working together in September and fortunately I provided the right tools he needed for his style. Since the beginning I've explained to him that I wouldn't change his style, just improve it and approach him about working angles better. His strength is toughness and power punching. All he needs is to maintain his game plan. As long as he stays healthy going into a fight - that is most important - moving up to cruiserweight will not affect his power and mobility." WBA No. 2 rated cruiserweight Shumenov, a 2004 Kazakhstan Olympian who lives in Las Vegas, captured the WBA light heavyweight title January 29, 2010 by way of a 12-round decision over Gabriel Campillo. Fighting as a professional in only his 10th  professional bout, Shumenov established the fewest-fights record for the light heavyweight champion of a major organization with his victory over Campillo.   Shumenov successfully defended his WBA light heavyweight title belt five times against previously unbeaten mandatory challenger Vyacheslav Uzelkov (DEC12), former world champion William Joppy (KO6), multiple world title challengers Danny Santiago (TKO) and Enrique Ornelas (DEC12), and previously undefeated Tamas Kovacs (TKO3). Fans may friend Beibut Shumenov on his Facebook Fan Page atwww.facebook.com/BeibutShumenov.

Beibut Shumenov returns Dec. 13 in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (Nov. 13, 2014) -- Former World Boxing Association (WBA) Light Heavyweight World title holder Beibut Shumenov (14-2, 9 KOs) returns to the ringDecember 13, kick-starting his new quest to become a two-division world champion, against cruiserweight Bobby Thomas Jr. (14-2, 9 KOs) in an eight-round bout on the Khan-Alexander card, presented by Golden Boy Promotions, at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Shumenov, who lives and trains in Las Vegas, last fought this past April 19 in Washington D.C., losing a 12-round split decision to then International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion Bernard Hopkins (54-6-2) in their unification fight. "I look forward to December 13th and pursuing a world cruiserweight title with Al Haymon in my corner," Shumenov said. The 31-year-old Shumenov captured the WBA light heavyweight title January 29, 2010 in only his tenth pro fight, establishing the fewest-fights record for the light heavyweight champion of a major organization, with a 12-round decision over Gabriel Campillo. The driven Kazakh successfully defended his WBA title belt five times, in order, against previously unbeaten mandatory challenger Vyacheslav Uzelkov(DEC12), former world champion William Joppy (KO6), multiple world title challengers Danny Santiago (TKO) and Enrique Ornelas (DEC12), and previously unbeaten Tamas Kovacs (TKO3). Shumenov (R) rocks Kovacs at the end of their 2013 fight (photo by Tom Casino / Showtime)  The muscular Shumenov, a 2004 Kazakhstan Olympian, realized after his last fight that making the 175-pound division limit took too much energy out of him and sapped his strength. Already rated No. 3 by the WBA, Shumenov will make his cruiserweight debut Dec. 13 against a fighter with the exact same record, West Virginia champion Thomas. "I'm happy to be fighting again and moving up to the cruiserweight division," Shumenov noted. "I don't have to struggle now to lose 50-plus pounds to make weight for my fights." After being self-trained for his last three fights, Shumenov is now working with highly- respected Cuban coach Ismael Salas, who has trained a litany of world champions such as Guillermo Rigondeaux, Yuriokis Gamboa, Danny Green, Jesse Vargasand Jorge Linares, among the more notables. "I've had a lot of changes after my last fight," Shumenov added. "I trained myself for the last three fights but now I have added a great trainer, Ismael Salas, to my team.  Fans may friend Beibut Shumenov on his Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/BeibutShumenov.