Byron Mitchell replaces Berrio as Shumenov’s opponent Saturday night in Kazakhstan

Posted on | May 7, 2009 | No Comments

LAS VEGAS (May 7, 2009) – Former two-time world champion Byron “Slama from Bama” Mitchell has replaced Alejandro “Naco” Berrio as light heavyweight sensation Beibut Shumenov’s opponent, Saturday night in the main event on an all-star card, outdoors at Khadkimukan Stadium in Shumenov’s hometown of Chimkent, Kazakhstan. Berrio had visa issues in Colombia.

Saturday’s show (May 9), presented by KZ Event Productions, owned by the Shumenov brothers, Beibut and Chingis, will be taped live for later broadcasts in North America.

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 all be on the line, as well as the vacant IBA world crown, against present NABA USA light heavyweight champion Mitchell (27-4-1, 20 KOs).

Reigning NABA USA title-holder Mitchell first captured the WBA super middleweight belt in 1999, stopping defending champion Frankie Liles in the 11th round. Byron, 1999 Ntional Golden Gloves middleweight champion, recaptured the WBA crown in 2001 via a 12th round knockout of Manny Siaca. Two successful title defenses followed against Siaca (DEC12) and Julio Cesar Green (TKO4). All four of Mitchell’s four career losses have been to world champions – Joe Calzaghe, Sven Ottke, Bruno Girard and Richard Hall.

“Although we’re disappointed Beibut won’t be fighting Berrio as planned,” Chingis Shumenov said, “we’re excited that Mitchell accepted our offer to fight him in the main event. We’ve been targeting Mitchell, who is a world-class fighter that’s fought some of the biggest names in boxing.”

Former IBF light middleweight Roman “Made In Hell” Karmazin will fight at home for the first time in seven years against Luis “Tyson” Augusto Dos Santos (24-15, 20 KOs) in the 10-round co-feature. Born in Russia, reigning NABF middleweight title-holder Karmazin (38-3-1, 24 KOs), rated No. 5 by the IBF and No. 10 by the WBC, was stationed in the military and later lived in Uralsk, Kazakhstan, where his son, Oleg, still resides and studies.

Also fighting on Saturday’s card 4-time Uzbekistan National amateur champion Gayrat Ahmedov (10-0-1, 6 KOs), making his KZ Event Productions debut, versus WBC Latino and Brazilian title-holder Luzimar “Tiger of Itacre” Gonzaga (25-4, 20 KOs), in an 8-round light heavyweight match.

Former WBO light welterweight champion DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley (33-11, 19 KOs) meets former Brazilian lightweight champion Sidney Siqueira (12-3-1, 7 KOs) in an 8-round bout

The undercard is loaded with undefeated Uzbekistan light middleweight Ravshan Hudoinazarov (7-0. 5 KOs) vs. former Brazilian lightweight title-holder Isak “Iza” Tavares (16-6, 4 KOs), plus Chimkent hometown favorites such as light middleweight Kanat Orakbaev (2-0, 0 KOs) vs. Umid Soliev (1-1, 0 KOs) and pro-debuting heavyweight Doszhan Ospanov. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

KZ Event Productions, Inc.

Based in Las Vegas, KZ Event Productions is owned by the Shumenov brothers, world-rated light heavyweight Beibut and Chingis. KZ Event Productions is a full service, international boxing promotional company. Go to www.kzeventproductions.com for more information about the company.

-KZ-