By Luke Furman

Former WBA, IBF cruiserweight world champion Murat Gassiev has indicated that he will make a big career decision in April, with respect to his future weight class.

Gassiev will either remain in the cruiserweight ranks or head up to the heavyweight division.

Gassiev reached the final bout of the World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight tournament, in which he lost a twelve round unanimous decision to Oleksandr Usyk in July 2018.

After this fight, Gassiev had surgery on his shoulder and remained on the shelf to fully heal.

The Secretary General of the Russian Boxing Federation, Umar Kremlev, would like to eventually get Gassiev in position for a rematch with Usyk, who plans to become a heavyweight for his next fight.

Gassiev has already begun training and plans to join his head trainer, Abel Sanchez, in California in the coming weeks.

He plans to negotiate his return with the DAZN streaming service, which is currently the home of the World Boxing Super Series and where Usyk currently competes. By next month he hopes to lock down an opponent, his future weight class, and a tentative return date.

"I started to engage in training, which the body is taking well, there is no pain or ailments, and so far everything is going according to plan. Currently, the issue with the visa is being resolved, after which, most likely, I will return to Big Bear to continue the training process," said Gassiev to Vasily Konov.

"I can’t share any specific information about a possible fight yet, but I think that everything will become clear during April. Approximately at this time the question of the weight, the division on where my career will continue, will all be decided - and this depends on negotiations with DAZN and with potential opponents."