Organizers of the fight between Murat Gassiev and American Mike Balogun in Yerevan demanded that the Russian boxer stick the Russian and North Ossetian flags on the equipment. “Match TV”.
On March 1, it was learned that Gassiev was a citizen of Armenia. The boxer said that he would not refuse to compete under the Russian flag.
In the summer of 2022, former World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) light heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev met with US representative Carlous Welch. The 28-year-old Russian boxer knocked out his opponent in the middle of the first round.
Prior to that, Gassiev last appeared in the ring against German Michael Wallisch in July 2021. In this match, the Russian boxer won by technical knockout in the fourth round.
Thus, Gassiev got 29 wins (22 KOs) and one loss in a duel with Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk in his fight for the absolute champion title in 2018.
Formerly International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) refused Return Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions.