WBA: Dorticos Now WBA 'Regular' Champ, Shumenov is Out
On Monday, the World Boxing Association championships committee released a resolution regarding the status of the cruiserweight division.
Firstly, it was made public the relinquishment of the 'regular' division champion - Beibut Shumenov (17-2, 11 KOs) - because he can no longer fight based on medical recommendation after suffering an injury to the eye.
For that reason, it was decided to promote Cuban Yunier Dórticos (21-0, 20 KOs), who was supposed to fight Shumenov, from interim to regular champion. The move eliminates the interim title.
Second, Russian boxer Denis Lebedev was authorized to fight Australian Mark Flanagan for the the WBA's "super" cruiserweight championship. However, the winner must fight Dorticos in 120 days, in order to have only one champion in this division.
The resolution was sent to all parties involved and its intention is to ensure the activity of the division that has gone a year without a title fight.
IN OTHER NEWS: ORANGE, Calif. - Junior lightweight Michael Dutchover (4-0, 4 KOs), a highly accomplished amateur and recently turned professional, highlights Friday night's "Path to Glory" undercard from the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Calif.
Watch Dutchover vs. Carrizoza and the rest of the 6-fight card on TB Presents: Path To Glory, live streaming on ThompsonBoxing.com and Facebook Live beginning at 7:45 p.m. PST / 10:45 p.m. EST.
Tickets for "Path to Glory" are priced at $40, $60, & $100 and are available for purchase online at ThompsonBoxing.com, or by calling 714-935-0900.
Dutchover, who trains in Southern California but resides in Midland, Tex., faces his toughest opponent to date: once-beaten Miguel Carrizoza (10-1, 2 KOs) of Hermosillo, Mex.
The bout marks Dutchover's second 6-round fight of his young career. He stormed into the paid ranks with four straight knockout wins.
Dutchover had a successful amateur run that saw him win nine national titles, a bronze at the 2015 U.S. Olympic Trials, and a runner-up finish at last year's National Golden Gloves competition. Dutchover, 19, believes he was built to fight professionally.
Detailed opponent scouting reports in the early years of a boxer's professional career are often not available. Dutchover has an idea of what to expect from Carrizoza, but he will rely mostly on his extensive amateur background.