Pulev vs Gassiev Has a Moses Itauma Problem Tonight on DAZN

Everyone keeps pretending this is a tidy title defence in Dubai. It isn’t. This fight has a third man in it, even if he’s not in the building yet. Moses Itauma. Twenty years old. Heavy hands. Zero fear. And very likely waiting for the winner, assuming he gets past Jermaine Franklin in January.

That knowledge changes behaviour. Veterans fight differently when they know the next one could be a young wrecking ball. Punchers fight differently when they know a belt and a career-defining payday are within reach. You could see it already in how Pulev and Gassiev carried themselves this week. Less smiles. Less theatre. More “let’s get this done properly.”

Pulev took the WBA regular title off Mahmoud Charr on points last winter, doing exactly what he’s done for years. Drag you into his tempo. Lean on you. Make it uncomfortable.

Pulev’s real path isn’t pretty, but it’s familiar

Forget the clean jab narrative you’ll read everywhere else. Pulev’s jab only works if it’s ugly. Stiff. Repetitive. Annoying. He’s not fencing here. He’s prodding, posting, and stopping Gassiev from getting set.

The size matters, but not in the glossy way people sell it. Pulev’s reach advantage is about control, not damage. He needs Gassiev frustrated, reset, reaching. Once Gassiev starts dipping his head and leaning forward out of impatience, that’s where Pulev’s best punch comes in.

The uppercut isn’t a highlight. It’s a deterrent.

And yes, the clinch will be constant. Anyone pretending otherwise hasn’t watched Pulev fight in the last decade. He’ll grab. He’ll lean. He’ll sneak shots inside. He’ll slow the air out of the fight. At 44, that’s not cowardice. That’s survival. If this turns into a rhythm contest at mid-range, Pulev’s in trouble.

His best-case scenario is boring people to death while quietly winning rounds. Judges won’t love it, but they’ll score it.

Gassiev’s danger comes from pressure, not patience

Gassiev’s biggest threat isn’t one big shot. It’s what comes after the first one lands. He changes levels better than people give him credit for, and against a slower heavyweight, that matters. Pulev doesn’t react quickly anymore. He reacts correctly, but late.

That’s where Gassiev can eat.

The body work is the real story. Gassiev doesn’t just thump the ribs for effect. He uses the upstairs punch as a decoy, then digs in like he’s chopping wood. Those shots don’t look dramatic in the moment, but by round six or seven, you start seeing Pulev reset slower. Clinches get heavier. Legs stiffen.

Hand speed is the swing factor. Gassiev has it. Pulev doesn’t. If Gassiev keeps the volume high without getting reckless, he can drown Pulev on activity alone. Not a wild shootout. Controlled pressure. Step in, step out, then step in again before Pulev’s feet are set.

The danger for Gassiev is overconfidence. If he loads up hunting a finish, Pulev will spoil him, lean on him, and steal rounds while the clock runs.

The uncomfortable truth nobody’s saying

This fight isn’t about who looks better. It’s about who accepts discomfort longer. Pulev is used to living there. Gassiev prefers dominance. That clash is why this is closer than people want to admit.

If Pulev survives the early body work, this becomes awkward, scrappy, and scorecard-dependent. If Gassiev hurts him before Pulev can slow the pace, it ends fast.

And hovering over all of it is Itauma. Win ugly, win clean, win violent — it doesn’t matter. Whoever comes out with the belt is likely staring down the youngest, hungriest heavyweight in the picture next.

That’s why this fight matters more than the marketing tells you.

Pulev vs. Gassiev will take place tonight at Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Dubai, with the whole card set to be shown live on DAZN.

The main card is set to begin 5 pm GMT with the ringwalks for Pulev vs. Gassiev 9 pm GMT.

Event details

IBA Pro 13

• Date: Friday, December 12, 2025
• Start time: 9:00 AM ET | 2:00 PM UK
• Streaming: Live on DAZN
• Venue: Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, Dubai

Main card highlights

• Kubrat Pulev vs Murat Gassiev, WBA heavyweight world title
• Bakhodur Usmonov vs Maxi Hughes, WBA lightweight title eliminator
• Yoel Finol vs Shakhobidin Zoirov 2, IBA Pro world bantamweight title
• Khariton Agrba vs Nerii Muñoz 2, WBA super-lightweight title eliminator
• Vadim Musaev vs Tulani Mbenge, welterweights