The Boxing Weekend: ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights
By Geno McGahee
There’s not much boxing this weekend, but the little that is happening is taking place in California on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights. Beibut Shumenov, 9-1, 6 KO’s, the WBA Light Heavyweight Champion makes a defense of his title against the undefeated challenger, Viacheslav Uzelkov, 22-0, 14 KO’s,
Shumenov, for his limited professional experience, has taken on some decent opposition. He won a decision over former champion, Montell Griffin and has recently knocked out Byron Mitchell in four rounds. He won the title in a rematch with Gabriel Campillo, taking the title via split decision. His only defeat was to Camptillo by majority decision. The uncertainty concerning the result led to the rematch.
With the exception of two fights, Uzelkov has fought all of his fights in the Ukraine. He has also faced Campillo, but there was no doubt about the end result of their fight. Uzelkov stopped him in six rounds. He has stopped five of his last six opponents and comes into this title opportunity with a full head of steam.
On the undercard, light heavyweight Gayrat Ahmedov, 14-0, 9 KO’s, takes on Dallas Vargas, 22-4, 16 KO’s. Ahmedov was on a six fight knockout streak before meeting up with Demetrius Davis, a fighter with a record of 19 wins, 20 losses, and 5 draws. Ahmedov eked by with a majority decision win. Vargas typically loses whenever he steps up in class and this will be a big test for the undefeated prospect. He has to get past Vargas, a knockout loser in two of his three last fights, in order to move on to the big time. It’s an interesting supporting bout.