Murat Gassiev ready for title unification bouts with Kabayel, Dubois
Murat Gassiev manhandled Peter Kadiru for a sixth-round stoppage win on Saturday in his first WBA heavyweight title defense, headlining the IBA PRO 19 show at VTB Arena in Moscow, Russia.
Gassiev (34-2, 27 KOs) made easy work of Kadiru (23-2, 13 KOs), a late-replacement opponent who stepped in for the injured Tony Yoka to take on the tussle without any success.
Gassiev, The Ring's No. 9-rated heavyweight, can now move on to more meaningful matchups, specifically title unification bouts against WBC champion Agit Kabayel and WBO titleholder Daniel Dubois.
IBA president Umar Kremlev is interested in staging the fights in the respective countries of the division's other titleholders.
"Our next step is definitely Germany and the UK to fight against Kabayel and Dubois," Kremlev told The Ring. "We love the opportunity of a title unification fight. The best need to fight the best and defend their titles."
Gassiev will also be inclined to give Moses Itauma a title shot since it's a fight he's previously called for, if Itauma gets past Filip Hrgovic on August 29.
The 32-year-old initially picked up the WBA's secondary heavyweight title by stopping Kubrat Pulev in December while headlining the IBA Pro 13 event in Dubai. Following news of The Ring champion Oleksandr Usyk vacating his IBF, WBA and WBC titles last month, the Russian emerged as the WBA's lone belt holder.
The development was a welcome one for Gassiev, who's now revived his career with four straight wins after suffering a split decision loss against Otto Wallin in September 2023. Gassiev's only other loss came against Usyk in 2018 during a cruiserweight title unification bout.
Gassiev's improbable rise as a power player in the heavyweight division is also a welcome development for the IBA, which has a vested interest in the former cruiserweight champion's career as they continue to build on promoting more pro shows.
"We are ready to bring big heavyweight fights around the globe," Kremlev said. "We have plans to organize additional IBA events in the United States, England, and China as well.
"It's part of our grassroots movement to grow professional boxing with new opportunities around the globe. We don't see ourselves as competition to the rest of the organizers. Our task is to unite the boxing world. We're aiming to raise the bar every time. We're not in a rush to go onward and upward."
