Veteran ref Drakulich excited to work bouts on eve of cancer fight

Vic Drakulich has been officiating fights in Nevada since 1986. Now, the 61-year-old referee is in a fight of his own.

Drakulich was diagnosed with a rare form of abdominal cancer two weeks ago and will undergo surgery in mid-January at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He’s not sure how long he’ll be out of the ring. The Reno native said he first sought treatment in 2012.

“I had a swelling in my groin area, and the swelling hardened a year later,” he said. “They biopsied the area, and it was cancer-free. But a couple of weeks later, I heard back from the doctor, and they said they had found something cancerous with my appendix. So I had surgery in September 2013 to remove the appendix, and I thought I was done. But a couple of weeks ago, I had a follow-up checkup and they found something with my abdomen.”

Drakulich said the surgery is expected to last longer than 10 hours and will include chemotherapy. He will be hospitalized for a couple of weeks.

“I don’t know when I’ll be back in the ring,” he said. “But I’m used to battling, and I’m going to fight this with everything I’ve got.”

Drakulich plans to work until he leaves for Texas. He’s scheduled for one of the two boxing cards Dec. 13 in Las Vegas.

Nevada Athletic Commission executive director Bob Bennett confirmed Drakulich will work one of the title fights at either the MGM Grand Garden or The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The referee assignments will be announced at Monday’s commission meeting.

Drakulich said he also is scheduled to referee on a card Dec. 31 in Tokyo.

“I’m looking forward to that,” he said. “But as far as when I return, I’ll keep in touch with the commission and see how I’m doing. I won’t work unless I’m 100 percent.”

■ SHUMENOV RETURNS — Beibut Shumenov, a former world light heavyweight champion, returns to the ring Dec. 13 against Bobby Thomas Jr. in an eight-round cruiserweight fight at the MGM Grand.

Shumenov (14-2, nine knockouts) lost his World Boxing Association title April 19 to Bernard Hopkins. Thomas (14-2-1, nine KOs) won a 10-round split decision over Eric Watkins in his most recent fight on March 29.

Shumenov has been working with trainer Ismael Salas as he moves up in weight. Salas most recently trained Las Vegas’ Jessie Vargas to the WBA junior welterweight title in April.

Shumenov-Thomas will be on the undercard of the Amir Khan-Devon Alexander welterweight main event, which will be televised on Showtime.

■ SUCCESS IN ARIZONA — Barry’s Boxing took nine fighters to the prestigious Gene Lewis Invitational Tournament last week in Mesa, Ariz., and won the team championship at the amateur event, which attracted more than 300 boxers from across the country.

The team took first in three divisions.

Wesley Diana won the 141-pound division in the 15-16 boys age group; his younger brother Joesly captured the 12-year-old division at 106 pounds; and Yarisel Ramirez, 15, won the female intermediate age group at 119 pounds.

Winning silver medals were Randy Zazueta in the 12-year-old boys division at 85 pounds; Fabian Camerina in the 15-16 boys at 119 pounds; and Jose Montoya in the boys 15-16 group at 125 pounds.

Also in the tournament, David Sample of Las Vegas won the men’s open division at 141 pounds.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.