Beibut Shumenov Dethrones Gabriel Campillo; Brinkley, Manfredo Win

Former Kazakhstan Olympian Beibut Shumenov dethroned southpaw, WBA light heavyweight (175 pounds) champion, Gabriel Campillo, of Spain, by split-decision on Friday night, earning a crown in only his 10th professional fight at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

The victory improved Shumenov (pictured right) to 9-1, with six knockouts against the 31-year-old Campillo (19-3, six KOs), to whom Shumenov lost a 12-round majority decision in August's battle of 6-foot-2 boxers before Shumenov's partisan fans at
the Sport Complex in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Born in Chimkent, Kazakhstan, Shumenov lost to Campillo on Aug. 19 -- four days before his 26th birthday -- with two judges scoring it for Campillo, 115-111, and, 114-113, and the third calling it a draw at 113-113.

On Friday night, however, judges Jerry Roth and Patricia Morse Jarman had it for Shumenov, 115-113, and, 117-111, while Levi Martinez had it for Campillo, 117-111.

"I'm not surprised by the decision," Shumenov, who was under new trainer, Kevin Barry, told the Associated Press. "I had the better trainer and he told me what to do to win. This win is for my friends and family back in Kazakhstan."

By earning the crown in only his 10th professional bout, Shumenov established a new record in the light heavyweight class.
Michael Spinks held the previous mark, rising to 17-0 when he dethroned Eddie Mustafa Muhammad for the WBA title by 15- round, unanimous decision in July of 1981.

Incidentally, Michael's older brother, Leon Spinks, dethroned Muhammad Ali as WBC and WBA world champion by 15-round split-decision in only his eighth professional fight in February of 1978 in a bout that earned Ring Magazine's Fight Of The Year.

According to CompuBox, Campillo out-landed Shumenov 320-219 -- a gap of 101 punches overall. But in many rounds, Shumenov built a huge lead over the first minute to force Campillo to fight from behind.

That was the case in the first minutes of rounds one-through-four, and rounds 10 and 12. In rounds five-through-nine, Campillo's attack was more balanced over the course of those rounds.

Campillo's tendancy to fight in spurts in Shumenov's adopted home town may have cost him the crown, but the ex-champion was, nevertheless, incensed concerning the final verdict.

"I got robbed," Campillo told The Associated Press. "I want an investigation of the judges."



Jesse Brinkley Derails Curtis Stevens

Las Vegas resident, Jesse Brinkley surprised a man nine years his junior in their 12-round, super middleweight (168 pounds) IBF eliminator on Friday night when he twice floored, and, easily out-pointed, 24-year-old, Curtis Stevens of Brownsville, N.Y., for his ninth straight victory at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, on Friday night.

Brinkley won, 117-109, 118-108, and, 119-107, respectively, on the cards of Burt A. Clements, Dave Moretti , and, Herb Santos.

"I knew I was going to beat him three months ago. I watched one tape on him, and I knew that I had him beat. I had too much experience for him," said Brinkley, who may have earned himself a shot at southpaw IBF champion, Lucian Bute (25-0, 20 knockouts) of Canada. "I want to go to Canada. Lucian Bute, that's who I want next."

In victory, the 33-year-old Brinkley improved to 35-5, with 22 knockouts, dropping Stevens to 21-3, with 15 KOs, and ending the younger man's four-bout winning streak that had included three knockouts since losing a 10-round unanimous decision to Andre Dirrell in June of 2007

Brinkley was out-landed, 26-18, in power punches over the first two rounds, but had an advantage of 181-125 in total punches over the last 10, according to CompuBox. Over rounds 11, and, 12, Brinkley averaged 81 punches.

Brinkley withstood an early barrage of left hooks that shook him and raised a large, purplish-colored welt beneath his right eye, and, a smaller, similar-colored one under his left.

Later, Brinkley rocked, and, dropped the muscular Stevens in the sixth round behind an assortment of punches highlighted by lead and overhand rights.

"I was just taking my time trying to set him up with [the right hands.] I was going to try my hardest to take him past those earlier rounds," said Brinkley. "And once I saw him start to breath a little bit harder, I was going to push him a little bit."

In the 11th-round, Brinkley pinned Stevens along the ropes and might have stopped him had the bell not sounded to end the round.

Brinkley dropped Stevens, yet again, in the 12th round -- this time with a left hand that forced Stevens to be supported by the ropes.

"I really wanted to stop him. But when you get a young, explosive puncher like that and you hurt him, you've got to be careful," said Brinkley. "Because if you over-exert yourself, you're going to run in to a dangerous fighter."


Peter Manfredo Jr. Wins NABF Crown

Peter Manfredo Jr. earned his third straight victory as well as the vacant NABF middleweight (160 pounds) title on Friday night when hetook a 10-round, unanimous decision over Matt Vanda at Mohegan Sun in Uncassville, Conn.

The 29-year-old Manfredo, of Providence, R.I., won by scores of 100-89, on two cards, and, 99-90, on the third, rising to 34-6, with 18 knockouts, while the 31-year-old Vanda slipped to 42-10, with 22 KOs.

Manfredo's last loss was in November of 2008, when he was stopped in three rounds by Sakio Bika.


Chris Avalos Remains Unbeaten

Rising, 20-year-old bantamweight (118 pounds) Chris Avalos of Lancaster, Calif, stopped Puerto Rico's 29-year-old, Jose Nieves, at two minutes, 20 seconds of the fourth round of their main event on Friday night's ShoBox: The New Generation series from Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, N.M.

In victory, Avalos rose to 15-0, with his 12th knockout, dropping Nieves (17-2-3, eight KOs), in the first round as well as twice in the fourth, where the losing fighter was unable to beat the count.

"I'm beyond happy, but I didn't think it would end that quickly. I thought it would go into the sixth round," said Avalos. "He was a good fighter, I take nothing from him. I was just the better fighter tonight."

On the undercard, 21-year-old super featherweight (130 pounds) Archie Ray Marquez, of Albuquerque, improved to 9-0, with six KOs by scoring an eight-round, unanimous decision over Derrick Campos (20-8, 11 KOs) in front of his home town fans.

Nick Charles, in his first appearance since being diagnosed with cancer (stage IV urothelial carcinoma) last summer, called the action from ringside with along with Steve Farhood and former world champion, Antonio Tarver.

Charles is considered to be in 80 percent remission.