 Las Vegas (Plaub Hlis Ntuj 29, 2016) – Lub ntiaj teb no Boxing Association (WBA) Interim cruiserweight world champion Shumenov Beibu (16-2, 10 Kos), the only Kazakhstan-native to hold world titles in two different weight classes, is disputing the WBA’s sanctioning of the WBA “kev” cruiserweight world championship fight, Tej zaum 20 nyob rau hauv Paris, between two lower-ranked WBA fighters, Ua Tsis. 2 yunier Dorticos thiab tsis. 5 Youri Kalenga (recently upgraded to No. 3).Kawg Xya hli ntuj, Shumenov defeated B.J. Paj by way of a 12-round unanimous decision to become the mandatory challenger for WBA “kev” cruiserweight yeej Denis Lebedev, who was later elevated to “Super” champion.
Lebedev hasn’t fought a mandatory defense nyob rau hauv ib xyoo, Tiam sis, when he won a 12-round decision over Kalenga, who had earned his world title shot, like Shumenov, by becoming WBA Interim world champion. The WBA granted Lebedev an extension in terms of his due mandatory defense because of the Russian’s unification fight Tej zaum 21 in Moscow against International Boxing Federation (IBF) title-yas dhos Victor Emelio Ramirez.
“I’m very disappointed the WBA is sanctioning Dorticos-Kalenga for its ‘regular’ cruiserweight title, when I am the No. 1 ranked and current WBA Interim champion,” Shumenov hais tias. “I repeatedly informed the WBA through emails, texts and verbally that I was ready to fight back in January. I preferred to fight Lebedev but I was willing to fight Dorticos or anybody else in the top 15. For the past few months, I’ve been laboring over what I believe is a very bad decision, letting two lower-ranked fighters, Tsis. 2 thiab tsis. 3 hais mav, fight for the WBA ‘regular’ title. I am shocked and bewildered and do not understand the WBA’s rationale to have either of these fighters declared the WBA ‘regular’ champion without first defeating either Lebedev or me, the Interim champion and No. 1 rank contender.
“I appealed the decision but, kom deb li deb, the WBA has done little in response to my appeals other than delay and stall before finally ruling that I will fight the Lebedev-Ramirez winner months from now, tsis tau, ignoring my appeal to stop the regular title status of Dorticos-Kalenga and still sanction a fight between them, its No. 2 thiab tsis. 3 rated fighters, for the WBA ‘regular’ title. This is unfair to fans, who deserve to watch the best fighting the best, especially when a world championship is at stake! We now have this odd situation where there will be three separate WBA cruiserweight fights in May, all for a different version of WBA world title I just don’t feel anyone should get the WBA ‘regular’ title without first defeating a champion or at least the top-ranked fighter in the division. The WBA knew I was and am ready to fight. Its decision makes no sense and, nyob rau hauv kuv lub tswv yim, diminishes the prestige and meaning of the title. I have respect for Dorticos and Kalenga but I think the legitimacy of any world title resulting from a fight between the No. 2 thiab tsis. 3 ranked contenders, when the No 1 mandatory contender who already holds the WBA Interim champion is ready and available, to say the least, is highly questionable.
“The WBA told me and announced to the media that it was working to have only one world champion in each division. While I’ve been sitting out the last four months waiting to fight, the WBA has decided to allow six different guys to fight for peb WBA cruiserweight world titles, practically on the same day, instead of crowning only one WBA cruiserweight world champion. I look forward to returning to the ring and my manager, Al HAYMON, has advised me that I will fight in May and we will announce next week. I want to thank everyone for their support and I apologize to my family, cov phooj ywg, fans and my country, Kazakhstan, for this chaos the WBA has caused that has damaged and delayed my professional boxing career. I will move forward and continue to fight inside the ring, letting my attorneys and manager fight this unfair situation outside the ring.”
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