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12/17/2008 Archived Entry: "Beibut Shumenov Defeats Epifanio Mendoza"
Beibut Shumenov Defeats Epifanio Mendoza
Story and Photos by Ricardo Ibarra
![BeibutShumenov(right)opensupinclose[1]. (125k image)](http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/news/archives/BeibutShumenov(right)opensupinclose[1]..jpg)
Beibut Shumenov (right) opens up in close
BELLEVUE, Wash. -- With only seven professional bouts under his belt, undefeated Kazakhstani prospect Beibut Shumenov has taken a very ambitious approach to the start of his career. Last August he took on former Light heavyweight champion and Roy Jones conqueror Montell Griffin, scoring a twelve round unanimous decision victory. Although Griffin is considerably past his prime, the notion of matching a young fighter with a vastly more experienced veteran like Griffin would be a move most managers would shy away from so early in a career. Shumenov, though, handled the challenge with ease, winning the bout via a shutout on all three judges’ scorecards.
His ambitious climb up the boxing ranks continued this past Saturday, December 13th at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, WA, where Shumenov (7-0 5KOs 178 ½ lbs.) scored an impressive ten round unanimous decision win over another highly experienced and notable opponent in Colombia’s Epifanio Mendoza (28-7-1 24KOs 178 lbs.).
Shumenov, who competed for Kazakhstan at the ’04 Athens Olympic Games, displayed a sound base of fundamental boxing technique in his victory, controlling the bout throughout with a quick, strong jab and lateral movement. From the start of the bout he was able to keep Mendoza off balance and reaching with his punches. Shumenov routinely jumped in with lead straight rights and right uppercuts, exposing the openings left by his opponent Mendoza found some success in the fifth round as Shumenov began to open up with greater consistency on the inside, leaving himself open for counter right hands. A hard right at the end of the round seemed to shake up Shumenov.
In the sixth Shumenov made an adjustment that continued to work for him throughout the remainder of the bout, though. At the start of the round he would step in and unleash a flurry of power shots, then step back out and box for the remainder of the round behind his jab, only opening up when an opening presented itself. This tactical move proved to be a smart one as the early flurries made Mendoza apprehensive about engaging, allowing Shumenov to control the pace of the bout. In the end all three judges scored the bout for Shumenov, awarding him the victory by scores of 97-93, 98-92, and 100-90.
In the co-main event of the evening former Jr. Welterweight title holder DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley (32-10-1 18KOs 140 ½ lbs.) scored his first victory in over two years, making short work of journeyman Donnell Logan (11-18-2 6KOs 145 ½ lbs.). Corley was able to end the bout with the first solid shot he landed, dropping Logan with a sharp right hook. The referee reached the count of ten at 1:07 of the first round. With the win Corley breaks a six fight losing streak.
Portland, Oregon’s David Banks (18-4-1 3KOs 167 lbs.) had little trouble claiming his eighteenth professional victory, defeating Spokane, Washington’s Dumont Welliver (18-18-1 6KOs 160 lbs.) with a lop-sided eight round unanimous decision. Banks used a controlled attack of accurate counter punching and elusive defense to control the majority of the bout. Welliver, who if nothing else can always be counted on to give a spirited effort, pressed the action throughout, stepping in with looping hooks. Unfortunately for Welliver most of his shots were blocked and the aggression only allowed Banks the opportunity to exploit the openings left. The official tallies read 80-71, 79-72, and 79-72 for Banks.
In a four round Jr. Middleweight bout, Hedi Bouaziz (1-0 155 ½ lbs.) made a successful entry into the professional fight game with a shut-out victory over Christopher Domenech (0-1 152 lbs.). Bouaziz controlled the majority of the bout by simply snapping his jab in the face of his opponent. Domenech continuously left himself open with his chin high in the air, allowing Bouaziz to easily find the opening. All three judges’ scored the bout 40-36.
Heavyweight Anthony Beyoune (1-0 1KO 252 ½ lbs.), of Portland, Oregon, made an impressive professional debut, stopping fellow novice Anthony Taylor (0-1 231 ½ lbs.) in the second round. Taylor had a successful start early in the first round, boxing well behind a good jab. The taller Beyoune appeared confused as to how approach the fight early on as his opponent circled, but that confusion quickly dissipated as a hard left hook sent Taylor down for a mandatory eight-count. Beyoune pressed with a barrage of power shots, dropping his opponent once again at the end of the round with two hard right hooks along the ropes.
Early in the second round Taylor, apparently eager to regain control of the bout, opened up wildly and in the process left himself open for Beyoune’s short counter hooks. A left-right hook combination to the chin sent Taylor down, prompting the referee to wave the fight off at 2:31 of the second round.
The show’s opener featured a four round lightweight bout between Bend, Oregon’s Nichoulas Briannes (1-0 133 ½ lbs.) and Kendall Ward (0-1 127 lbs.) of Portland. Briannes was able to control the majority of the bout with lateral movement and a solid one-two out of a southpaw stance. Ward had his moments in the first round, but his lackadaisical style and unwillingness to commit to offense allowed Briannes to dictate the pace and command the action in the ring. In the fourth round Ward was given an eight-count after he turned his back on his opponent to avoid further punishment after two hard left hooks buckled his knees. The official judges’ scorecards read 40-35, 38-37, and 39-36 all for Briannes.
The events promoters, KZ Event Productions Inc., which is headed by Beibut Shumenov, put on a full line-up of entertainment, featuring not only an entertaining night of boxing but an array of differing acts including local musicians, dancers and acrobats.
