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With Lucian Bute out of his scheduled May 25 fight against Jean Pascal in Montreal, the search is on for a new opponent to keep Pascal in an HBO fight that night. WBA light heavyweight titlist Beibut Shumenov has been offered up by promoter 50 Cent.
Right now, the fight is in HBO's hands. Shumenov has been sent to them for approval. If HBO approves, the promoters will try to quickly work out a deal.
Shumenov (13-1, 8 KO) hasn't fought since June 2012, when he easily defeated Enrique Ornelas in Las Vegas. It was a familiar for Shumenov, who started his career ambitious and has stagnated a bit. He needs to get active and needs to face top contenders, and a fight with Pascal (27-2-1, 16 KO) is a big step in the right direction.
If the fight is approved, it at least saves a fight event in Montreal and keeps HBO on that night, too, both good things. It may not be Bute-Pascal, but it would still be pretty good.