KZBlog

The pick for the best fight of 2011 might well have been Beibut Shumenov-Juergen Braehmer. Scheduled for the 8th of January, the victor would have walked away unifying the WBA and WBO light heavyweight titles. It would have been particularly momentous for Kazakhstan’s own Shumenov, 27 years old, who would have set a record unifying two world titles in 12 fights. It would have been an especially impressive feat against the far more experienced 35 year old Braehmer, the man who has never been knocked out, with 38 fights, 36 wins and 29 KOs, under his belt. But for the moment the match is off, though no one seems satisfied with the explanation.

On 3 Jan, Braehmer’s camp released a statement from Shymkent, Kazakhstan, where the match was to take place, saying, “I am totally focused. My preparation for this fight was very good, and I’m in the best shape of my life,”

However as Dan Goossen, Shumenov’s trainer was stepping off his plane in Shymkent on the 4th, Braehmer was already getting ready to step onto a airplane, leaving due to stomach illness. Bizarrely, Braehmer apparently didn’t inform anyone in Kazakhstan he was sick, let alone anyone in Shumenov’s camp.

Goossen demanded to speak to the German boxer at the airport:

I did speak to Braehmer directly, but he refused to see a doctor. I implored him to see the boxing federation doctor as it is referred to in our agreement that if he is not feeling well or is complaining about an illness, that one of the requirements is to see the Kazahkstan Boxing Federation doctor as he would in any federation — Nevada, or wherever the fight may be,” said Goossen.

“I told him that I would bring the doctor to his room, but he refused to stay. The trainer sort of put his head into his hands and seemed lost. I told Braehmer, ‘If you walk out like this, then you’re putting a lot of people in jeopardy because this isn’t the way that you handle things,” said Goossen. “You at least have to have a doctor check him out. I told him this right at the airport. Someone in the Shuemnov camp called him, ‘A thief in the night.'”

In a statement later that day, Braehmer’s promoters claimed that both the boxer and the President of German Boxing Association, Thomas Putz, ate together at the hotel in Shymkent and,

“both came down with severe diarrhea with nausea and severe vomiting which lasted all night,” according to Universum’s doctor. “This caused severe headaches and abdominal pain,” said [Dr. Michael] Ehnert. “Juergen was particularly so weakened that he couldn’t train, and it’s not possible for him to be able to compete for a world title in a few days.”

The way the fight was cancelled immediately and the fact that Jurgen refused to see a doctor leave a few suspicions. I’ll try to keep up with this story as more facts come in. Let’s hope there is a rescheduling and Shumenov emerges as champion!