Murat Gassiev won the fight with Kubrat Pulev and won the title of regular WBA world champion. The fight took place in Dubai at the BETCITY IBA.PRO 13 tournament and ended with a spectacular knockout in the sixth round.

For Gassiev, this fight was the first title success in the heavyweight division. The 32-year-old Russian boxer defeated the 44-year-old ex-champion from Bulgaria ahead of schedule and added the WBA Regular belt to his collection.

How did the fight go?

Gassiev immediately took the center of the ring, but the starting rounds remained with Pulev. The Bulgarian worked confidently with his front hand, moved a lot and constantly broke the distance. In the first and second rounds, Murat acted cautiously, he looked more closely and was inferior to his opponent in activity, and Pulev’s jabs and doubles regularly reached the target.

In the third round, the picture did not change: Pulev continued to press the pace, several times pressed Gassiev to the ropes and blocked the Russian’s rare successes with series from a distance. Murat added more, began to work more often on the body, but this was not enough.

The turning point came in the fourth round. Gassiev began to apply more pressure, found opportunities to hit floors, and for the first time really hooked Pulev with a left side kick to the head. This was Murat’s best segment in the fight: he began to impose power boxing and take the initiative.

The fifth round was a close fight. Gassiev hit the body well, then the head, but Pulev responded with the usual series and still looked more active. Everything was decided in the next three minutes.

In the sixth round, Pulev started again with jabs and twos, but Gassiev bided his time. After working on the body, Murat knocked out the Bulgarian with a sharp and accurate left side kick to the head. Pulev collapsed on the floor, and the fight was stopped – a spectacular and timely ending.

Kubrat Pulev and Murat Gassiev / Photo: © IBA.PRO / Ruslan Kolesnikov

What Gassiev said after the fight

After the fight, Murat Gassiev dedicated the victory to his mother.

“I dedicate the victory to my mother, who sacrificed everything for us. This victory is for her. Pulev is an experienced opponent, it was difficult. He was constantly shifting, breaking the distance. With each round we changed tactics, and in the end we managed to land the blow. The opponent is tall, uses his anthropometric data well, so it was difficult to reach his head,” Match TV quoted Gassiev as saying.

When asked whether it is possible to talk about the return of “prime” Gassiev, the boxer answered calmly.

– It’s hard to talk about this. This is boxing. I just train and do my job to the best of my ability.

In his professional career, Gassiev had 36 fights: 33 victories, 26 of them by knockout, two defeats and one failed fight. Pulev now has 32 wins (14 knockouts) and four losses.

Murat Gassiev’s coach Anton Kadushin emphasized that the team is happy with the result, but is not going to stop there.

– I’m pleased with the work done. I congratulate us, and I especially congratulate Murat. Let’s rejoice and continue to work, there are still other important battles ahead. We have to work,” Kadushin told Match TV.

The victory over Pulev brought Gassiev the title of regular WBA champion and opened up new prospects in the heavyweight division. But, as both the boxer himself and his coach made it clear, this success is just another step, and not the final point.

The IBA.PRO 13 tournament was broadcast live on the Match TV and Match Fighter channels.