WBA champion Shumenov lays down law

For now, Beibut Shumenov is doing his fighting inside a boxing ring. Courtroom battles will have to wait.

The WBA light heavyweight champion has put his career as a lawyer on hold to focus entirely on boxing. The 27-year-old Shumenov, who won the title in Las Vegas in 2010 in only his 10th professional fight, defends it tonight against veteran Danny Santiago at the South Point. The card will start at 6 p.m.

"My goal is to win all the belts in my division. Practicing law can wait," said Shumenov, who is from Kazakhstan but lives and trains in Las Vegas.

Shumenov (11-1, seven knockouts) said he still has much to learn in the ring even though he's a world champion.

"I've been working on everything," he said. "My defense. My power and speed. I know I have to keep getting better. But I've noticed the improvement in my boxing, and it's encouraged me to work even harder."

His trainer, Kevin Barry, also has seen Shumenov's growth.

"I've never seen anyone so driven," Barry said. "It's a challenge for me to keep up with him, he's such a quick learner."

As quickly as Shumenov believes he is improving, he knows he might have to bide his time before he gets a shot at IBF champion Tavoris Cloud, former champs Chad Dawson and Jean Pascal and, particularly, WBC champ Bernard Hopkins.

"I'm very patient," Shumenov said. "I'm willing to wait. I'm not looking for a quick payday. But Cloud, Dawson and Pascal -- I'd fight them right now. Bernard Hopkins? I don't know that I want to fight him. He's been my idol. I've always looked up to him."

In the meantime, Shumenov wants to sharpen his skills and win -- and look good doing so.

"When I finally get to fight on HBO, I want to make a good impression," he said. "That's why it's important I (beat Santiago)."

Shumenov said it would be detrimental to his boxing career to practice law at the same time. But at least he gets to interact with fellow attorneys; he has Todd Kennedy and Paul Hejmanowski of Las Vegas firm Lionel, Sawyer & Collins on retainer.

"I'm surrounded by lawyers," Shumenov said with a laugh. "They handle everything for me."

In Santiago (31-4-1, 19 KOs), Shumenov will face an opponent who hasn't fought in 14 months, since winning an eight-round majority decision over Billy Bailey. Santiago had two cracks at a world title in 2007, but lost by technical knockout to WBO champ Zsolt Erdai (eight rounds) and IBO champ Antonio Tarver (four).

Shumenov said he has worked too hard to get careless at this point and risk losing out on future championship fights and lucrative paydays.

"I expect the best from Danny Santiago," he said. "But I also expect to be at my best."

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