By CompuBox

The 23-year-old Murat Gassiev did just enough to relieve the 37-year-old Denis Lebedev of his IBF belt (he's still the WBA titlist) as he scored a fifth round knockdown (left hook to the ribs) and landed with the harder punches in what was a tense, long-range boxing match.

Lebedev was on the back foot most of the time but jabbed better and countered well.

But Gassiev's power and superior body attack (41 of 152 overall connects, 39 of 108 landed power shots to 15 of 146 overall and 12 of 85 power for Lebedev) -- along with the knockdown -- proved to be the difference. Scoring: 116-112, 116-111 Gassiev, 114-113 Lebedev.

Murat Gassiev picked up a twelve round split decision  over Denis Lebedev to win the IBF cruiserweight title on Saturday.

Gassiev knocked down Lebedev in the fifth round with a hook to the body but the defending champion came back strongly late on as the 23-year-old Gassiev tired.

Gassiev won 116-112 and 116-111 on two scorecards, while 37-year-old veteran Lebedev took the third 114-113. The announcement sharply divided the crowd in Moscow, packed with supporters of both Russian fighters.

"I prepared myself for a very tough fight. Denis is a champion and I knew what was waiting for me in the ring," Gassiev said. "Big respect to him. I'm very happy I won today."

Gassiev improves to 24-0 after by far the biggest fight of his five-year pro career. Lebedev, who drops to a 29-3 career record, remains the WBA champion at cruiserweight because the fight was only recognized as being for the IBF version of the title.

Earlier, Namibia's Julius Indongo won the IBF light title by knocking out the reigning champion and heavy favorite, Eduard Troyanovsky. Indongo's fierce left hook 40 seconds into the fight sent the Russian flying backwards.

Troyanovsky, who was previously unbeaten and had won his last 14 fights by knockout or retirement, needed medical attention but appeared not to be seriously hurt.

Indongo, a former police officer, is 21-0 following his first career fight outside Namibia, while Troyanovsky is 25-1.