Beibut Shumenov Stops Danny
Santiago by TKO in Ninth Round!
Photo credit: Alex Salahi
July 30, 2011
(JULY 30) Last night WBA and IBA World
Light Heavyweight Champion Beibut Shumenov unloaded a 23-punch explosion
on three-time world title challenger Danny Santiago in the ninth round,
when the fight was stopped by referee Tony Weeks, in tonight’s main
event that aired live on TeleFutura’s “Sólo Boxeo Tecate” from South
Point Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“I didn’t count the punches,” Shumenov
said after the fight, “but I could have thrown more.”
Shumenov (12-1, 8 KOs) systematically broke-down a game Santiago
(31-5-1, 19 KOs), WBA No. 15, using his jab and going to the body in the
early rounds. “It definitely wasn’t like I expected,” Shumenov commented
about the start of his third successful title fight. “He specifically
prepared for my style. I knew he was tough but not that tough. He’s
durable and can take good punches. I developed a blister on my right
foot in the third round that made it hard for me to maneuver. I couldn’t
put my combinations together because I was uncomfortable.”
Former world light heavyweight
champion Jean Pascal watched the fight from ringside. “He said he wanted
to fight me in Canada,” Shumenov said after speaking with Pascal in the
ring. “I said he was from Canada, I’m from Kazakhstan, so let’sfight in
Las Vegas where all champions dream of fighting. Pascal, Cloud,
Dawson……I’m ready for anybody!”
“Shumenov is a great fighter,” Santiago remarked. “He has a good, sound
technique. My eye swelled and got worse and I had trouble seeing the
punches at the end. I thought I could have gone longer but, you live by
the sword, you die by the sword.”
