Murat Gassiev scored a stunning KO victory over Kubrat Pulev to claim the WBA ‘regular’ heavyweight title in Dubai.
Gassiev ended the contest in the sixth round after landing a clean left hook that floored Pulev, unable to beat the count as his opponent struggled to get down.
Pulev is no stranger to British boxing fans, having lost to Anthony Joshua and Derek Chisora in 2020 and 2022 respectively.
At the age of 44, his clash with Gassiev was arguably the final roll of the dice, but he fell short.
Gassiev celebrates after winning the WBA ‘Regular’ heavyweight title
With the eye-catching win, Gassiev can now claim a world title from the WBA against unified champion Oleksandr Yusyk, who has held the WBA ‘Super’ belt since his first win over Joshua in 2021.
Gassiev, a former cruiserweight world champion, has previously met Usyk at cruiserweight, with Usyk winning by unanimous decision.
Hot British prospect Moses Itauma is also awaiting Gassiev, and the WBA announced before the fight that the winner of the Pulev-Gasiev fight will have to fight Itauma in their next fight.
Pulev was initially ordered to make his mandatory WBA title defense against Itauma, but the Bulgarian team already had plans in place for the fight against Russia’s Gassiev.
Itauma breaks his 13-fight unbeaten record when he faces American Jermaine Franklin in Manchester on January 24.
