Beibut Shumenov once made history in the 175-pound division, winning a title quicker than any other fighter after only nine pro bouts.
Beibut Shumenov throws down with Bobby Thomas Jr. in his first 200-pound fight in December.
Now, Beibut Shumenov (15-2, 10 KOs) is attempting to duplicate that success as a 200-pounder, though he’ll be plunging into deep waters to do so when he faces veteran contender B.J. Flores (30-1-1, 20 KOs) on July 25 at The Pearl at the Palms in Las Vegas.
Also on the card, a pair of undefeated 200-pound prospects square off when Jordan Shimmell (19-0, 16 KOs) takes on Isiah Thomas (14-0, 6 KOs).
The fights will air on NBC Sports Network beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
For the Kazakhstan-born Shumenov, a former Olympian, the fight will be his second in the 200-pound division following a five-round victory over Bobby Thomas Jr. in December.
"I'm excited to get back in the ring July 25 on NBC Sports Network to be a part of this huge fight,” Shumenov says. “Flores is a good fighter with experience, so I expect a very good, entertaining fight.”
Having defeated such former champs as Gabriel Campillo, William Joppy and Montell Griffin, Shumenov will be in tough against Flores, whose only loss came against former three-division champ Danny Green in 2010.
Flores, a ringside analyst during PBC on NBC broadcasts, will be looking to keep his momentum going after a bounce-back 2014, when he pounded out three consecutive wins after a two-year absence from the ring.
A victory over Shumenov would be the biggest of his career thus far.
