Kovalev and Shumenov Mandalay Bay and Palms Las Vegas Fight Card Previews
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Las Vegas, NV (July 25, 2015)– World Light Heavyweight champion Sergei Kovalev and Beibut Shumenov will appear as the main event on separate fight cards tonight broadcast worldwide from Las Vegas, Nevada. Kovalev will headline at eight bout pro boxing card at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, while BeibutShumenov and B.J. Flores will battle for the vacant World Boxing Association interim World cruiserweight title in the main event of a six bout pro boxing card at Pearl Theater at Palms Casino and Resort.
At Mandalay Bay, Kovalev, now 27-0-1, 24 knockouts, a Russian fighting out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, will defend his World Boxing Association Super, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization World Light Heavyweight titles against challenger NadjibMohammedi, 37-3, 23 knockouts, Gardanne, France. Mohammedi has incurred two losses in less than two rounds, so his record is suspect. Kovalev should expose it by knockout in five rounds or less. Whenever the fight ends, Kovalev will finish strongly and powerfully. When will the Kovalev versus Adonis Stevenson unification match take place? Credit must given to the brave challengers who agree to fight the feared Kovalev and don’t back out.
In the preliminary to the main event, 29-3-1 Haitian Canadian light heavyweight Jean Pascal is favored by ten round decision over 16-0 Cuban émigré Yunieski Gonzalez of Miami, Florida. Another Cuban émigré, 15-0 Sullivan Barrera of Miami, Florida, is favored to win by ten round decision over 21-7 Hakim Zoulikha of Villeurbanne, France, for the vacant USBA Light Heavyweight title.Zoulikha has lost three decisions in a row.
18-0 super featherweight prospect Joel Diaz Jr. of Palmdale, California, and light heavyweight contender 24-2-2 Isaac Chilemba of Johannesburg, South Africa, will also appear on the undercard and are both favored to win by knockout.
At The Palms, Shumenov, 15-2 with 10 knockouts, a Kazakh fighter now based in Las Vegas, is a former WBA and IBA World Light Heavyweight champion moving up in weight class to cruiserweight. Shumanov also fought his last bout at ‘junior heavyweight’ 200 pounds with his opponent Bobby Thomas at 201 pounds. This reporter often refers to the 195 to 210 pound weight class as junior heavyweight or super cruiserweight, for fighters who go up in weight who are not true heavyweights. Minor title belts such as the IBA recognize the intermediate weight class between cruiserweight and heavyweight.
Shumenov is favored by late round stoppage or 12 round unanimous decision over hang around cruiserweight and boxing commentator B.J. Flores, 31-1-1 with 20 knockouts, Chandler, Arizona, for the interim World Boxing Association World Cruiserweight title.
Flores can fight, but other than a 12 round decision loss to Danny Green for the IBO World Cruiserweight title in November 2010, Flores has not fought anybody. He is stronger than Shumenov at this weight, though, so Flores will probably go the distance.
Former WBA World Super Bantamweight champion Rico Ramos of Pico Rivera, California, and unbeaten cruiserweight prospect Andrew Tabiti of Las Vegas are favored to win by decision on the undercard. Southpaw Detroit cruiserweight Isiah Thomas is favored to win by 10 round majority decision over Michigan cruiserweight Jordan Shimmel in a bout for the vacant USBA Cruiserweight title between unbeaten prospects.
UAS NBC Sports Network will televise the Shumenov card. The Main Events Kovalev card will be televised on USA HBO, Hungary Sport 1, Australia Main Event, and Canal Space.
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