Former World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) light heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev defeated American Michael Balogan to win the vacant WBA Intercontinental Championship.
The fight in Yerevan on Friday ended with a technical knockout in the second round.
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, 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 30 wins (23 knockouts) and one loss in a duel with Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk in the fight for the title of absolute champion in 2018.
Previously reportedthat the organizers demanded that Gassiev affix the Russian and Ossetian flags to the equipment.