Gassiev's Promoter Rates Povetkin's Chances WIth Wilder

By Alexey Sukachev

On May 21, WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (36-0, 35 KOs) is about to test the deepest waters of his ten-year long career when he risks his title against powerful #1 contender Alexander Povetkin (30-1, 22 KOs) at Povetkin’s backyard.

Four days earlier, another fighter will have the toughest date of his career. IBF #3 rated Russian Murat Gassiev (22-0, 16 KOs), still just 22, battles another American Jordan Schimmel (20-1, 16 KOs) in the IBF final cruiserweight eliminator.

What links Wilder and Gassiev is the fact that the undefeated Russian serves as one of the chief sparring partners for the still-to-be-beaten American.

“Murat spars with Wilder, he has already had three sparring sessions”, said Alexey Vasiliev, his Russian promoter (as a part of Ural Boxing Promotions) to Allboxing.ru.

“We have agreed to four (sparring sessions). Prizefighting is a sport at the very first place, and Murat struggles mightily to find someone to test his skills against. That’s why we have offered our services to Deontay and his team”.

“We are all rooting for Sasha (Povetkin) in the upcoming fight”, continued Vasiliev. “As for me I’d says Povetkin has high chances to upset an apple cart. Will Murat advise Sasha? No, he won’t. We cannot do that and we shall not; it’s incorrect from a moral standpoint to reveal such information. Murat has also sparred with Dmitry Kudryashov and Dominic Breazeale, who is about to challenge IBF champion Anthony Joshua for his title in summer."