BoxRec

Murat Gassiev is a few months away from the biggest fight of his career - but he has a bigger goal in mind.

After Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs) goes through with his upcoming bout, he hopes to try his hand at the heavyweight division

"I would like to change my weight division, go to heavyweight, because it is the most prestigious... I want to try my hand there. At the moment, I'm still in the cruiserweight division and I need to win my next fight to become the absolute champion of the world, and then we will see," said Gassiev.

When Gassiev arrived back home to his homeland in North Ossetia, he was met at the airport by more than 3 thousand residents of the republic, as well as a delegation from South Ossetia - according to the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for North Ossetia, citing police officers who provide security at the airport.

"To meet the champion at Beslan airport, more than 3 thousand people arrived. They were waiting for his arrival from Sochi for several hours," the spokesman said.

Gassiev was overwhelmed with emotion from the huge turnout.

"Thank you all for arriving and meeting me at this late hour, this is our common victory. I felt your support from the stands during the fight. I saw our flags of Alania, it was very pleasant," Gassiyev stated while he addressed the crowd.

Gassiev and Usyk will both move to HW eventually. They both are big cruisers and have good boxing kills. More money in HW too.

It will be interesting to see how well they will do up there.

On the other hand it is bit sad that the guys who are the best at cruiser move up to heavy. They could have long career at the top of cruiser. Instead they will probably be only moderately successful at HW. They will eventually get beaten up by less skilled but naturally bigger guys.

Cruiser could be and would be the best division if the best boxers would stay there.

Heretic wrote: ↑09 Feb 2018, 06:10 Gassiev and Usyk will both move to HW eventually. They both are big cruisers and have good boxing kills. More money in HW too.

Cruiser could be and would be the best division if the best boxers would stay there.

Usyk is 31, fair enough.

Gassiev is 24. He could easily set records. The names in 200 aren't that bad compared to HW. But like he said, it's more prestigious. I do think he'll move up eventually. But I think it's too early for him. If he has no trouble making 200, why not another 4 years, He can become the next HW star. By then AJ will be early 30's Wilder mid 30's. Parker is similar age.

CW is interesting but if Usyk and Gassiev move to HW they could make it far more interesting while CW stays with Briedis Dorticos Lebedev Glowacki Vlasov Kudryashov (though there are rumours he faces Wach in may) Huck Lerena etc which also makes it at least entertaining division

If he beats Usyk, he has nothing else to achieve at CW. He was talking about moving to HW a few years ago, so he should do so after beating Usyk.

P.S. Boxers from Russia and especially its ethnic enclaves are known for their motivation issues which is another reason to move to HW. Otherwise, he is a national star in Osetya now, so he could easily become a politician like Provo and some other Russian sports stars.

Both of them, Gassiev and Usyk, would be among top 10 HW, tomorrow.

ValMar wrote: ↑09 Feb 2018, 13:09 Both of them, Gassiev and Usyk, would be among top 10 HW, tomorrow.

100% true. Easily top 10

I'd like to see him have another year or two at Cruiser. If he wins there's the possibility of fights with the likes of Briedis and possibly a rematch with Usyk depending on how that fight goes this summer. Given that most big guys peak later, usually around their early 30s, then there's no reason for him to rush.

I would love to see the undisputed cruiser champ vs the undisputed heavy champ.
Big big bucks

ValMar wrote: ↑09 Feb 2018, 13:09 Both of them, Gassiev and Usyk, would be among top 10 HW, tomorrow.

One of the best comments said on this forum. Absolutely. Both dudes beat everyone at HW. The talent is so ridiculous at CW.

usyks limit at hw is probably guys like parker. no way hes beating aj.

gassiev punches far harder than usyk and will be able to get more respect. even if he loses in may he may have more long term hw potential than usyk. still highly doubt hed ever beat an aj.

Don't see a move North from Cruiserweight to Heavyweight for Gassiev myself.

I think Gassiev is a very fine cruiserweight. There is something gladitorial about him. He hits very hard but what I find most impressive is his economy of movement, especially how he can make his opponent miss or fall short seemingly without effort.

Unless his efficient style acts as a disguise, it seems to me speed is not one of his assets and I think Usyk will win based mainly on greater work-rate / volume of punches, and even better technique.

I can see Usyk being a force at heavyweight even if he doesn't boast Gassiev's punching power, but I struggle to imagine Gassiev as a successful heavyweight although I can be wrong and frequently am. Time will tell.

they can both do just as well as parker

ValMar wrote: ↑09 Feb 2018, 13:09 Both of them, Gassiev and Usyk, would be among top 10 HW, tomorrow.

Definitely.

Depending on how far Ortiz has faded, how good a drug-free Povetkin really is, and where Parker is in comparison to the top 2, you could even make the argument Usyk and Gassiev would be top 5. Using Huck vs Povetkin as reference, I don't think size is a factor, apart from against the likes of Joshua, Wilder and (maybe) Fury.

I think I'd prefer to see both stay where they are for at least another year though. As much as I'd love to see Gassiev smashing up a returning Tyson Fury, Usyk vs Dorticos, Gassiev vs Briedis and Gassiev vs Glowacki are fights I still want to see.

tiny_acres wrote: ↑09 Feb 2018, 13:19

ValMar wrote: ↑09 Feb 2018, 13:09 Both of them, Gassiev and Usyk, would be among top 10 HW, tomorrow.

100% true. Easily top 10

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑09 Feb 2018, 22:14

ValMar wrote: ↑09 Feb 2018, 13:09 Both of them, Gassiev and Usyk, would be among top 10 HW, tomorrow.

One of the best comments said on this forum. Absolutely. Both dudes beat everyone at HW. The talent is so ridiculous at CW.

Deleted_Scenes wrote: ↑10 Feb 2018, 05:09

ValMar wrote: ↑09 Feb 2018, 13:09 Both of them, Gassiev and Usyk, would be among top 10 HW, tomorrow.

Definitely.

Depending on how far Ortiz has faded, how good a drug-free Povetkin really is, and where Parker is in comparison to the top 2, you could even make the argument Usyk and Gassiev would be top 5. Using Huck vs Povetkin as reference, I don't think size is a factor, apart from against the likes of Joshua, Wilder and (maybe) Fury.

I think I'd prefer to see both stay where they are for at least another year though. As much as I'd love to see Gassiev smashing up a returning Tyson Fury, Usyk vs Dorticos, Gassiev vs Briedis and Gassiev vs Glowacki are fights I still want to see.

Imagine Usyk-Haye (fit/healthy) or Usyk-Povetkin.....Or, maybe better, Gassiev-Wilder or Gassiev-Parker............Joshua would be waiting for the winners, I hope T. Fury, too...........

I don't know how it works, I'm open minded to the idea they can fight up there, I think if Usyk wins, he should move up. Then I'd hope we get Breidis vs Gassiev. Usyk vs AJ next year would be awesome, it's a big ask you could say, but it's worth a go.

Surely be interesting. His style will be more fun than Usyk's at HW, I think, even though Usyk would have the greater success as more of a pure boxer. Considering Gassiev is only 24, he could build up a long career at HW depending how long he wants it. It'll be fun watching a smaller, fit fighter of old, KOing overweight behemoths.

The Heavyweight division will definitely be more interesting when the best of these guys enter into the scene.

Gassiev is 6'3 1/2 in height.
Usyk is 6'3 in height.


Joshua and Wilder stand at 6'7 in height.

chuck9788 wrote: ↑12 Feb 2018, 15:19 Gassiev is 6'3 1/2 in height.
Usyk is 6'3 in height.


Joshua and Wilder stand at 6'7 in height.

Joshua is more 6' 6", minus a bit, maybe. He was no taller or a bit shorter than Klitschko who is supposedly 6' 6". Anyways, Usyk schooled the 6' 6" Joe Joyce already. Wilder and Joshua have no chance against Usyk.

no chance?

jamamb wrote: ↑12 Feb 2018, 20:37 no chance?

Yes, just like you have no chance at ever having a brain cell in that dome of yours.