By Ryan Burton

On July 27th former unified cruiserweight champion Murat Gassiev (26-1) will make his heavyweight debut against rugged veteran Joey Dawejko (19-7-4) in Arlington, Texas. 

The fight will stream live on DAZN on the Jose Ramirez-Maurice Hooker undercard.

The hard hitting Gassiev defeated Yunier Dorticos and Krzystof Wlodarczyk to set up his showdown versus Oleskandr Usyk in the World Boxing Super Series finals.  Usyk won a dominating unanimous decision to capture all 4 major titles and become the undisputed cruiserweight champion.

Gassiev's trainer Abel Sanchez expects his fighter to be much more comfortable not having to shrink down to the 200 pound cruiserweight weight limit.

“I think towards the end there he was grown up and getting older and it was getting more difficult to not only make the weight but more difficult in camp because of the kind of sparring we had to have for him. We had to have heavyweights because cruiserweights just couldn’t be in there with him and then the injuries he had going into the fight - hopefully now at heavyweight the struggles won’t be as bad. He’s had the operation on his shoulder so he should be 100% on the 27th,” Sanchez recently told BoxingScene.com.

Even though he doesn't have to cut weight anymore, Sanchez said that Gassiev has kept his weight pretty stable. He doesn't expect him to be a big a heavyweight.

“He’s been consistent in the gym since he came in. He’s been from 222 to 225. He stays in that range. That’s a good weight,” Sanchez stated.

The fight will the first of a multi-fight deal Gassiev recently signed with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing USA.

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