CRUISERWEIGHTS BEIBUT SHUMENOV & B.J. FLORES SQUARE OFF
IN LAS VEGAS ON SATURDAY, JULY 25 ON
PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON NBCSN AT
THE PEARL AT PALMS CASINO RESORT
Televised Coverage Begins At 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT With
A Clash Of Undefeated Cruiserweights When
Jordan Shimmell Takes on Isiah Thomas
LAS VEGAS (June 29, 2015) – Former world champion Beibut Shumenov (15-2, 10 KOs) meets cruiserweight contender and NBC boxing analyst B.J. Flores (31-1-1, 20 KOs) on Saturday, July 25 on Premier Boxing Champions on NBCSN live from The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas with televised coverage beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
The evening’s televised co-feature will showcase a pair of undefeated rising contenders as Jordan Shimmell (19-0, 16 KOs) faces Isiah Thomas (14-0, 6 KOs).
“I’m excited to get back in the ring July 25th on NBCSN to be a part of this huge fight,” said Shumenov. “Flores is a good fighter with experience, so I expect a very good, entertaining fight. I am very happy to be fighting in Las Vegas. I am enjoying working with my head coach, Ismael Salas, and my two assistant coaches, Jeff Grmoja and Rodney Crisler. Every day has been productive and I’ve been learning something new.”
“Commentating for PBC is something I enjoy, but boxing is my passion. I am a boxer first,” said Flores. “I look forward to proving myself against a former world champion, an Olympian and a guy who is highly respected and regarded. This is the type of fight that PBC wants. Good competitive fights and that is what this is going to be. I’m very eager to be in a position like this. Beibut is a guy that I had always wanted to fight. He is a very good fighter. There is nothing bad to say about him. It is a great opportunity for me.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions are priced at $100.50, $75.50, $50.50, and $20.50, plus applicable fees, and go on sale tomorrow, June 30 at noon PT. Tickets may be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling the Pearl Box Office at 702-994-3200 or Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.
“Mayweather Promotions is pleased to bring another great night of fights to Las Vegas and viewers watching on NBCSN,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “With two top cruiserweight contenders entering the ring, this will be an action-packed event for as long as it lasts.”
“We welcome Mayweather Promotions back to The Pearl and look forward to hosting another night of fantastic fights live for the whole world to see,” said Billy Conn, Vice President of Entertainment and Special Events at Palms Casino Resort.
A native of Shymkent, Kazakhstan fighting out of Las Vegas, Shumenov looks to make his mark in the cruiserweight division in the same way he soared to the top at light heavyweight. The 31-year-old won his world title by defeating Gabriel Campillo in Las Vegas in 2010. The 2004 Olympian for Kazakhstan went on to defend his title five times and will look for a big win in the city he now calls home.
Twice a U.S. National Champion as an amateur, the 36-year-old Flores seeks his biggest professional win on July 25 in Las Vegas. Flores has also begun to make his mark on the boxing world as an analyst for PBC on NBC. Born in San Francisco but fighting out of Chandler, Arizona, Flores comes into this bout on a seven-fight win streak including his most recent effort, a third round TKO over Kevin Engel in Oct. 2014.
The 26-year-old Shimmell is a former amateur standout who became the first heavyweight to win four Michigan Golden Gloves titles. Undefeated as a pro, the Hudsonville-native has ended his last seven bouts inside of the distance including his most recent victory, an April stoppage of Carlos Reyes.
A product of Emanuel Steward’s Kronk Gym in Detroit, Thomas was trained by the late famed trainer throughout an amateur career that included two Junior Olympic titles and a gold medal at the World Cadet Championships. Since turning pro in 2008 the 26-year-old is yet to lose and recently defeated Brad Austin in February.
