LAS VEGAS (December 3, 2013) – Team Challenge has World Boxing Association (WBA) Super and International Boxing Association (IBA) Light Heavyweight World Champion Beibut Shumenov (13-1, 8 KO’s) in its corner to help KO Crohn’s & Colitis. Shumenov, who makes his fifth world title defense Saturday, December 14 on SHOWTIME, airing live from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, has been named Honorary Captain of Team Challenge, Southwest Chapter.
“I’m proud to be involved with such a worthy group like Team Challenge,” Shumenov said. “I hope that it will help increase awareness of this terrible disease and raise funds for Crohn’s and Colitis research and education. I hope other fighters will join me to KO Crohn’s and Colitis.”
Shumenov takes on undefeated, WBA No. 14-ranked Slovakian challenger Tamas “Tomi Kid” Kovacs (23-0, 14 KO’s), the former World Boxing Organization (WBO) European and World Boxing Federation champion, Dec. 14 on SHOWTIME.
“Beibut’s support of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America means so much to our organization and the people we serve,” noted Team Challenge National Manager, Aaron Castens. “He’s an accomplished fighter and knows that the 1.4 million Americans battling Crohn’s and Colitis are in a fight for their lives. His generosity and willingness to make a difference for our patients is exceptional. In the past five years research has shown overwhelming promise that we will soon have better treatment options and ultimately a cure. Thanks to Beibut’s contributions to our Team Challenge program, we are one step closer to ending this fight.”
The 30-year-old Shumenov, who lives and fights out of Las Vegas, represented his native Kazakhstan at the 2004 Olympics in Greece. In 2010, he set a light heavyweight record for capturing a major world title in the fewest amount of career fights, 10, by winning a 12-round decision over Gabriel Campillo. Shumenov has successfully defended his WBA/IBA titles four times against No. 1 mandatory challenger Viacheslav Uzelkov (DEC12), three-time world champion William Joppy (KO6) and multi-world title challengers Danny Santiago (TKO9) and Enrique Ornelas (DEC12).