Shumenov stops Wright in 10th to Retain WBA Cruiserweight Belt

Former light heavyweight titlist Beibut Shumenov was able to hang on to his WBA cruiserweight belt in the final preliminary bout, though it was almost disastrous for the Kazakhstani brawler. Junior Wright was getting out-boxed throughout the contest and seemed on the verge of crumbling, but the Chicago fighter dropped Shumenov late in the fifth with a powerful left hook.

Shumenov climbed back to his feet, but he was clearly on unsteady legs. Wright tried to close him out in the final moments of the frame but the bell betrayed him, allowing Shumenov to eventually clear his head and regain control of the duel.

From there, it was all Shumenov. The defending titlist scored two knockdowns in the eighth and then finished his foe off two rounds later with a flurry of punches in the neutral corner. Once Wright (15-2-1, 12 KOs) dropped to his knees, veteran referee Benjy Esteves knew he had taken too much punishment and intelligently waived off the battle. The end officially came at 1:04 of the 10th, allowing Shumenov (17-2, 11 KOs) to advance to the semifinal round of the new WBA cruiserweight tournament with the win.

BJ Flores used his jab and movement to easily out-box Mexico’s Roberto Santos (12-4, 5 KOs) in a six-round heavyweight attraction. The Phoenix-based veteran never was in danger but he also didn’t score any knockdowns, instead opting for a workmanlike performance. Flores (33-2-1, 20 KOs) won a unanimous decision on scores of 60-54 on all three ringside judges’ cards.

Los Angeles-based contender Lanell Bellows barely broke a sweat in his super middleweight bout against Scott Sigmon as the fight ended after one completed round. Sigmon, from Virginia, suffered a nasty gash over his left eye during a heated exchange. But after the doctor examined him in between rounds, the fight was halted, much to the chagrin of Sigmon, who fell to 26-9-1 with 14 KOs. Bellows, meanwhile, ascended to 16-1-1 with his ninth pro knockout.

There was a moderate upset to start the fistic festivities as Mexico’s Carlos Rodriguez (7-2, 3 KOs) flattened unbeaten prospect Trakwon Pettis (3-1, 1 KO) with a single punch in the second. Pettis, from Atlanta, was out cold and the referee never bothered to count, ending the fight.