Denis Lebedev: record, next fight and profile →
Abel Sanchez expects fireworks when Murat Gassiev challenges Denis Lebedev for the IBF cruiserweight title Saturday in Moscow. Sanchez – who trains the bigger, younger Gassiev – likened this bout between powerful Russians to one of the biggest fights in which Sanchez has been involved.
There is a world title mess brewing with Saturday's highly anticipated cruiserweight showdown in Russia. Several sources with knowledge of the details have advised BoxingScene.com that promoter Andrei Ryabinsky of World of Boxing, who handle IBF/WBA cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev (29-2, 22KOs), has applied for a special permit with the World Boxing Association to make the upcoming fight with mandatory challenger Murat Gassiev (24-0, 17KOs) a non-title encounter.
According to promoter Andrei Ryabinsky of World of Boxing, there is no pre-fight drug testing protocol for Saturday's fight in Russia between IBF/WBA cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev (29-2, 22KOs) and mandatory challenger Murat Gassiev (24-0, 17KOs).
Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, who handles IBF/WBA cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev, is confident his boxer will overcome his mandatory defense against dangerous unbeaten challenger Murat Gassiev. The fight takes place this coming Saturday night at the Khodynka Ice Palace in Moscow.
Undefeated puncher Murat Gassiev says his training camp was top notch for his world title shot on Saturday night at the Khodynka Ice Palace in Moscow. Gassiev will finally get his mandatory crack at IBF/WBA cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev. Gassiev is advised by Al Haymon and fights under the Premier Boxing Champions banner. Lebedev's promoter is the leading man in Russia, Andrey Ryabinsky, of World of Boxing.
The final press conference was held for Saturday's huge fight card at the Khodynka Ice Palace in Moscow. IBF/WBA cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev will be making a mandatory defense against dangerous unbeaten challenger Murat Gassiev.
WBA/IBF cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev (29-2, 22KOs) got more than he bargained for on a flight from Los Angeles to Moscow. The plane was forced to land at the Iqaluit airport due to an unruly passenger. Local authorities arrested Sisak Khudaverdyan, 36, of Armenia after Aeroflot Flight 107 landed around 1 a.m, ET. The flight continued on its way, leaving Iqaluit at around 3:30 a.m. ET, and has since landed in Moscow.
On December 3 in Moscow at the Sports Palace "Megasport" Khodynka, World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev will defend his titles in a fight with undefeated compatriot Murat Gassiev.
The heavyweight division was put into a state of flux when WBO/WBA/IBO champion Tyson Fury relinquished his titles after testing positive for cocaine.
Moscow could be in store for a very big doubleheader on December 3rd. As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, World of Boxing revealed the Khodynka Ice Palace as the finalized venue for the scheduled fight between IBF/WBA cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev and mandatory challenger Murat Gassiev.