Ahead of Ireland’s fixture Kazakhstan this evening JOE, spoke to one of that country’s most famous sons, WBA world light-heavyweight boxing champion Beibut Shumenov.
Ahead of Ireland’s World Cup Qualifier against them, it’s safe to say there are not many figures from the Republic of Kazakhstan that are bestriding the world stage in sport.
One of the people that does compete at an elite level is World Light-Heavyweight boxing champion Beibut Shumenov and his rise to that level is a fascinating one as he recounts it with his pidgin English to JOE when you call him in his adopted home of Las Vegas for a chat.
Miracle in the East
For Kazakhstan and Shumenov it was an inauspicious start. Kazakhstan, the largest landlocked country in the world, was part of the Soviet Union until 1991 and most noted for being the region from which Yuri Gagarin become the first man launched into space.
The end of the Cold War and the country’s independence marked a turn in fortune for Shumenov’s family, the boxer says. They became wealthy merchants and part of the country’s new middle-class. Things weren’t too good for young Beibut though.
“I nearly died,” says Shumenov in his stilted English.
He then recounts how his two aunts were babysitting him as an infant and in the midst of an argument between the two women who distracted each other; Shumenov got hold of some “bad milk.” He was poisoned in fact when you ask him for further clarification by what he meant.
Shumenov nearly died that day, but survived at a cost, his immune system.
“The doctors said I would never do physical sport again,” he says. The youngster watched his friends play soccer and wrestle as he watched films of his hero Bruce Lee.
Shumenov explains to JOE it was tough for him as Kazakhstanis have a strong sense of being a “man” and “strong.”
Eventually taking inspiration from Lee he took up martial arts and thrived. Kickboxing, wrestling and boxing were his sports, a very healthy mix.
Shumenov admits he may have ambitions in the direction of Mixed Martial Arts in the distant future, but at the moment he has a laser-like focus on unifying the light-heavyweight.
“Maybe in the future, but now I want all the belts to be undisputed champion.”
Dreams to Reality?
It was a seemingly meteoric rise for Shumenov to where this is an achievable aim now. He won his world light-heavyweight title after only nine professional bouts. Shumenov explains that he didn’t want to wait around, his record now stands 13-1.
But again he had to overcome major obstacles like in his childhood.
Himself for one thing, after a disappointing Olympics the young lawyer-in-training nearly called it quits. “It was not good, I got big and lazy,” he says neglecting to tell JOE that failed partly due to a broken hand he sustained in the first round.
He felt a strong sense of responsibility after the defeat “I let down everybody.”
That same sense of responsibility redeemed him though, he couldn’t walk away from his trainer who had invested so much in him.
“He said to me ‘you can be world champion’ so I moved to Las Vegas.”
That move was fraught with difficulties too, many authorities weren’t happy with Shumenov, a golden boy moving abroad, instead of remaining amateur and fighting in Beijing.
Fortunately the success and titles and glory he has won since the move have lessened the angst at home over his decision.
Winning his title against the favoured Byron Mitchell back in 2009 after only eight professional bouts was impressive. “I didn’t want to wait, I want to see if I was good enough.”
Now he has to climb a loftier peak and unify the division in his eyes. He lists possible opponents, other champions like Cloud, Dawson, Welshman Cleverly.
No Hopkins?
“No Hopkins is old, I respect him and his legacy but there other younger fighters I should fight.”
What if you were offered a lot of money?
“Money is not as important as getting all the belts,” he Shumenov sagely.
Sparring with Ireland
As the conversation moves on you ask Shumenov of his knowledge of fighters from Ireland, specifically mentioning Steve Collins someone who
“Steve Collins?” says Shumenov with a hint of recognition.
“Yes… he fight Benn and Eubank?” he says enquiringly, just to ensure he has the right man penned.
You answer in the affirmative.
“Ah yes I remember him. I watched him growing up. He was strong fighter, very aggressive,” he answers astonishing JOE that an Irish fighter was watched over 15years ago by a young lad from Kazakhstan that would one day tear through a division Collins once fought in.
JOE asks how Shumenov would think he would fare against the Celtic Warrior.
“I don’t know,” comes the reply “but I learnt from him,” he says of his days watching the Dubliner and many other boxers in the former Soviet state.
Steve’s brother Roddy is more closely associated with soccer as a former manager of Bohemian and Shamrock Rovers amongst others.
Soccer is a sport Ireland will get more acquainted with Kazakhstan and its people in the coming months as they’re our World Group C qualifying opponents, indeed they face each other in Astana this evening.
When this is mentioned to Shumenov he reveals one thing he thinks Ireland will get to know about his country in the coming months.
“We’re not too good at soccer,” he says simply.
You mention that at the moment Ireland can’t be considered too good either.
Shumenov laughs a little, “We will see.”
Obviously the champion doesn’t think his country has knockout credentials in that field.
Eastern Rising
Boxing is in an interesting place at the moment – the proliferation of top professional fighters since the break-up of the Soviet Union has really impacted on many divisions.
Much of the young children from those states like Shumenov are entering their prime now, yet there is difficulty accepting them.
The two Klitchko brothers illustrate that, fantastic fighters but not fond of revelling in the limelight, showboating and braggadocio. Maybe that’s why they don’t get the credit their considerable skills deserve. Maybe that’s why no one knows the incredible obstacles and stories they had growing up.
They don’t care to share, journalists assume softly spoken champions like Shumenov don’t have stories to tell. They’re automatons apparently. Beibut Shumenov typifies this.
It’s a far cry from the glitz, showboating and indeed boorishness of Chisora and Haye.
Shumenov is a champion though.
Top Photo Credit: boxingcommunity.org
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!
