Last night in Armenia, in a fight that pretty much flew under the radar, former cruiserweight champ Murat Gassiev (photo: International Boxing Association) took Kem Ljungquist’s unbeaten record as he stopped the Danish fighter in the fifth round in a fight that took place at heavyweight.
Over the weekend, which was of course dominated by Canelo Alvarez Vs. Jermell Charlo, heavyweight contender Otto Wallin pulled off a 12 round split decision win over former cruiserweight champ Murat Gassiev.
What could well turn out to be an interesting and exciting heavyweight fight will take place on September 30 in Turkey, as Otto Wallin of Sweden will face former IBF and WBA cruiserweight champion Murat Gassiev.
Former cruiserweight champion Murat Gassiev (30-1, 23 KOs) showed that his power transfers well at the heavyweight level with him crushing previously unbeaten Mike Balogun (20-1, 16 KOs) in round two on Friday night to win the vacant WBA Intercontinental heavyweight title at the Karen Demirchyan Sports Complex in Yerevan, Armenia.
Last night in Moscow, Russia, former cruiserweight champ Murat Gassiev had his first fight since October of last year, his second since July of 2018, and his second fight as a heavyweight.
Former IBF/WBA cruiserweight champion Murat Gassiev has fought just once since his heavy points defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, this in the final of The World Boxing Super Series in July of 2018.
According to a piece by Russian boxing writer Igorek Osetinskii, former cruiserweight champ Murat Gassiev will face Kevin Johnson on October 31 in Sochi.
We still await Murat Gassiev’s heavyweight debut. The former cruiserweight champ who lost that big unification fight with Oleksandr Usyk (Usyk since having made the move to the heavyweight division, beating Chazz Witherspoon in reasonably impressive fashion in October) has not boxed for getting on two years.
Murat Gassiev will make his long-awaited Heavyweight debut against Jerry Forrest at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on Saturday February 29, live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK – with rising Junior-Middleweight star Israil Madrimov in a World title eliminator and headline star Mikey Garcia showcasing two of his Garcia Promotions talents.
Last seen losing a wide decision against Oleksandr Usyk, Murat Gassiev is finally set for his own heavyweight debut. Gassiev was to have made his entrance into the sport’s premiere division against Joey Dawejko last summer, instead suffering injury.