Murat Gassiev produced a surprising knockout of Kubrat Pulev to say the WBA ‘common’ heavyweight title in Dubai.
Gassiev landed a clear left hook to flooring Pulev and finish the competition within the sixth spherical, along with his opponent unable to beat the depend as he tried to stumble to his ft.
Pulev isn’t any stranger to British boxing followers, having been crushed by Anthony Joshua and Derek Chisora in 2020 and 2022 respectively.
At 44 years outdated, his conflict with Gassiev was arguably a final roll of the cube, however he got here up quick.
Together with his eye-catching victory, Gassiev might now earn a full world title shot with the WBA in opposition to unified champion Oleksandr Usyk, who has held the WBA ‘tremendous’ belt since his first victory over Joshua in 2021.
Gassiev, a former cruiserweight world champion, has met Usyk as soon as earlier than at cruiserweight, with Usyk profitable by unanimous choice.
Britain’s red-hot prospect Moses Itauma can also be mendacity in anticipate Gassiev, with the WBA having acknowledged earlier than the struggle that the winner of Pulev-Gassiev should struggle Itauma subsequent.
Pulev was initially ordered to make a compulsory WBA title defence in opposition to Itauma, however the Bulgarian’s group had plans already in place for the struggle in opposition to Russia’s Gassiev.
Itauma places his 13-fight unbeaten file on the road on January 24 when he faces American Jermaine Franklin in Manchester.
