Former two-time world champion Byron “Gator” Mitchell says his comeback won’t be derailed by one setback. Mitchell took a short-notice chance at a quick bump in the world ratings and paid for it over the weekend by suffering his fifth career loss to undefeated Kazakhstan native Beibut Shumenov at the Stadium Khadjimukan in Chimkent, Kazakhstan, via TKO 4..
“We weren’t really in the gym, but we got the call and decided to give it a shot,” explained the disappointed Mitchell, who took the Shumenov matchup on 48 hours notice, flew 27 hours and landed on the day of the fight at 9 am.
To compound his disadvantages, Mitchell was then forced to drop some weight pre-fight.
“I take nothing away from this kid Shumenov, he fought well. But that wasn’t the real Gator in there. I’d like to face him again under more even circumstances.”
Mitchell’s promoter, Nick Garone of X-Cel Worldwide, says although the entire team knew the odds they were up against, the opportunity to fight for the International Boxing Association, WBO Asia Pacific, WBC Asian Boxing Council and interim PABA light heavyweight championships in one fight was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
“We knew going in it was a steep hill to climb, but a loss like this is explainable and doesn’t affect our future plans with Byron. He still has his NABA-US title and he’ll be back.”
Boxing at the Border – May 16 card in Primm, NV
On Saturday May 16th a Top Rank card at the Buffalo Bill’s Star Arena in Primm, NV will be co-headlined by prospects “Bam Bam” Brandon Rios (19-0-1, 13 KO’s) and Miguel “Mikey” Garcia (15-0 12 KO’s) of Oxnard, CA. Rios is taking on Jose Izquierdo (17-4-1, 14 KO’s) in a 10 round super featherweight bout, while Garcia meets Carlos Guevara (12-9-1 9 KO’s) in a 8 round featherweight bout. Also on the card will be local favorite Diego Magdaleno vs TBA and unbeaten super welterweight Vanes Martirosyan taking on Juan Astorga. Doors open at 5:30 pm and the first bout is at 6:00 pm. Tickets are still on sale at www.ticketmaster.com. The bouts will be televised on Azteca America.
Jimmy Lange Secures #11 NABF Ranking with WBC USNBC Win; Northern Virginia Contender Looks to Gain World Ranking
Fairfax, VA (May 11, 2009) – After dominating Frank Houghtaling (19-16-5, 4 KOs) to capture the World Boxing Council’s vacant 154-pound U.S. National Boxing Championship on May 2 in front of a hometown Patriot Center crowd, middleweight contender Jimmy Lange (30-3-2, 21 KOs) was rewarded with a #11 ranking in the May 2009 North American Boxing Federation (NABF) Ratings. Lange can also expect to achieve a world ranking next month when the WBC ratings are announced.
As a result of the championship win, the popular Northern Virginia fighter moved into the NABF’s top 16 for the first time in his 12-year career. He had earned a world ranking of #21 after winning the WBC’s Continental America’s championship two years ago, but lost the rating and relinquished the belt after inactivity forced him to the sidelines for more than a year while recovering from shoulder surgery.
May 2009 Ratings (www.nabfnews.com)
NABF Champion: Yuri Foreman, NY, WBC #5
WBC Champion: Vernon Forrest, USA
Americas Champion: vacant
Super Welterweight (154lbs)
Contenders
Alfred Angulo, MEX
David Lopez, MEX
Vanes Martirosyan, CA
Julio Cesar Chavez, JR., MEX
Joe Greene, NY
Eromosele Albert, FL
Sechew Powell, NY
Harry Joe Yorgey, PA
Alex Bunema, TN
Austin Trout, NM
Jimmy Lange, VA
Ishe Smith, NV
Andrey Tsurkan, NY
Roberto Garcia, TX
Pawel Wolak, NJ
Gabriel Rosado, PA