LAS VEGAS (August 4, 2009) – Team KZ is much more than its undisputed leader, unbeaten light heavyweight Beibut Shumenov, who challenges World Boxing Association light heavyweight champion Gabriel “Chico Guapo” Campillo, August 15th at the Sport Complex “Daulet” National Tennis Center in Astana, Kazakhstan. The Aug. 15th show will be presented by KZ Event Productions, owned and operated by the Shumenov brothers, Beibut and Chingis, in association with Sampson Boxing, LLC.
Two Team KZ members, 4-time Uzbekistan National amateur champion Gayrat Ahmedov and Uzbekistan light middleweight Ravshan Hudayaynazarov, will be showcased on the August 15th card.. “We’re building our promotional company to compete with the best in the business,” Chingis said. “My brother’s success has brought a lot of positive attention to KZ Event Productions and we’ve been able to sign some great prospects like Gayrat and Ravshan. We’re very excited to have them both in our stable of future champions. They both fought on our last show. We’re also evaluating talent all over the world to sign more outstanding prospects.”
Ahmedov (11-0-1, 7 KOs) fights former Eastern & Central African titlist Douglas “Daggy” Otieno (19-1, 9 KOs) in the 12-round co-feature for the vacant PABA and WBO Asia Pacific light heavyweight titles, recently relinquished by Beibut Shumenov.
Hudayaynazarov (8-0, 5 KOs), 2007 World Military Games gold medalist, fights 42-pro fight veteran, ex-Kenyan title-holder Joseph Joseph “Mish” Miyumo (30-7-5, 17 KOs), in a 6-round bout.
2004 Kazakhstan Olympian Shumenov (8-0, 6 KOs), reigning International Boxing Association title-holder, takes on slick Spanish southpaw, Campillo (18-2, 6 KOs), who won the WBA title in June as a decisive underdog, taking the WBA crown from Argentinean favorite and defending title-holder, Hugo Hernan Garay (32-3).
The 25-year-old Shumenov will make history if he defeats Campillo in his ninth pro fight, eight less than the fewest ever for a world light heavyweight champion, Michael Spinks (17). Now living and training in Las Vegas, Kazak star Beibut is currently rated No. 9 by the WBA
WBO light welterweight champion DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley (34-11, 20 KOs) continues his comeback in an 8-round bout versus “Jessie” James Kimori (11-1, 7 KOs).
Also scheduled to fight on the undercard against opponents to be determined is Philadelphia light welterweight Karl Dargan (4-0) and a pair of pro debuting Kazaks, super featherweight Abzal Adambaev and heavyweight Doszhan Ospanov.
Kingsley “Sharp Knuckles” Ikeke signs promotional contract with Brian Halquist Productions
Brian Halquist Productions is proud to announce the signing of Kingsley “Sharp Knuckles” Ikeke to a long term promotional contract today.
Ikeke (25-3, 14 KO’s) is coming off an impressive knock out win over Tacoma’s Emmett Linton in the main event at the Emerald Queen Casino’s Battle at the Boat 72, last month.
Halquist and Emerald Queen Manager George Robinson traveled to Freddie Roaches Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California to sign Ikeke.
“Ikeke has beaten two of Tacoma‘s favorite fighters,” said Promoter Brian Halquist. “The crowd really likes watching him fight. He beat a local hero on our last show and the fans gave him a standing ovation after the fight. He is an exciting fighter and a real crowd pleaser. We are very high on Kingsley,” Halquist said.
It’s not the first time that Ikeke has beaten a local Northwest fighter. In 2003 Ikeke beat Kenny Ellis for the NABA, NABO and NABF middleweight titles on a fight that was broadcast on ESPN. Ellis was the current NABO champion and ranked 3rd in the world by the WBO. Ellis was (30-4-2) and was in contention for a world title fight when Ikeke came to Tacoma and took the titles. Six fights later, Ikeke fought Arthur Abraham for the vacant IBF Middleweight World Title.
“We could not be happier. We look forward to fighting for Brian and to earning the respect of the hometown fans of Tacoma. We hope they will embrace us like they have done with their past champions,” said Steven Feder of Standing Eight Management.
At 6’4 and a reach of 79 inches, Ikeke’s large frame makes him very difficult to hit. “His steady jabs and his vicious uppercuts make Ikeke a very dangerous fighter,” said Halquist.
“There is no question in my mind Kingsley belongs in the elite of the super middles, which is one of the hottest divisions in boxing as we speak. When things shake out over the next several months, I firmly believe that Kingsley will have properly addressed any naysayers and leave little doubt that he is someone to be reckoned with,” said Whitfield Haydon, advisor to Kingsley Ikeke.
On August 29th, 2009 at the Emerald Queen Casino’s Battle at the Boat 73, Kingsley Ikeke (25-3, 14 KO’s) will face Mark Woolnough (19-5, 6 KO’s) for the NABA Super Middleweight Title.
“It’s exciting that we have some world class fighters that we are signing out of Freddie Roaches Wild Card Gym,” said Emerald Queen Manager George Robinson. “It’s amazing how far we have come with our boxing program. It has come a long ways since we had the circus tent set up on the water front, years ago.”
“Everything is in place for Kingsley”, Halquist Said. “We have a world class fighter in Kingsley, a great venue in the Emerald Queen, a solid management company to move him with, and the best gym in the world – Freddie Roaches Wild Card Gym. What a great team Kingsley has built for himself.” Halquist said.