Murat Gassiev scored a sixth-round knockout of Kubrat Pulev in Dubai to claim the WBA ‘regular’ heavyweight belt. A clean left hook sent Pulev to the canvas and he was unable to rise before the referee’s count, ending the contest emphatically.
Pulev, 44, is well known to British fans after defeats to Anthony Joshua and Derek Chisora in 2020 and 2022. Seen by many as one last big opportunity, the Bulgarian came up short against the former cruiserweight world champion.
The victory puts Gassiev in line for a bigger prize: a potential shot at the WBA ‘super’ champion Oleksandr Usyk, who has held that version of the title since beating Joshua in 2021. Gassiev and Usyk previously met at cruiserweight, with Usyk winning by unanimous decision, so a rematch at heavyweight would attract major interest.
Britain’s unbeaten prospect Moses Itauma also figures in the picture. The WBA had indicated the winner of Pulev-Gassiev should face Itauma next; Pulev had originally been ordered to defend against him but took the Dubai fight instead. Itauma will defend his 13-0 record on January 24 against American Jermaine Franklin in Manchester.
After the stoppage Gassiev celebrated his new belt, while attention now turns to whether he will press for a world-title eliminator or a clash with Usyk next.