Murat Gassiev Back in U.S. in January To Train With Sanchez

by Yuri Tarantin

IBF cruiserweight world champion Murat Gassiev (24-0, 17 KOs) will be heading back to the United States in January, to begin training with his head coach, Abel Sanchez, in Big Bear, California. Gassiev's next fight will take place in the United States, according to the boxer's manager Alexey Vasiliev.

Earlier this month, Gassiev traveled to Moscow to decision veteran Denis Lebedev for the IBF world title. He did not capture Lebedev's WBA belt, as Lebedev refused to stake it in the fight. There is some discussion about the possibility of a rematch - if Lebedev puts up his WBA belt.

"So far, the only specifics we have is that the next fight will be over there [in the United States]," said Vasiliev to Elena Sobol. "Murat is resting. It was very  hard to achieve this result [with Lebedev]. He's already training, but he's not yet at full strength. This is the beginning of his training. Right now he is now in Russia, and in January he will fly to the United States for training."

According to Polish promoter Andrzej Wasilewski, former WBO champion Krzysztof Glowacki (26-1, 16 KOs) would make a great opponent for Gassiev's first defense in the United States.

Both fighters are advised by Al Haymon and this fight could could easily occur as part of a televised card for Premier Boxing Champions in the United States. Both Gassiev and Glowacki are promoted in the United States by Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing.

"Glowacki is a fighter who has twice been showcased on American television. The promoters for Gassiev want to promote him in the United States, so they searching for opponents. The American audience knows [Glowacki] and he will be accepted by American television. Krzysztof is the kind of fighter [that Gassiev's team needs]," said Wasilewski in a televised interview on Polish television.

Glowacki has been out of the ring since August, when he lost a twelve round decision, and his WBO world title, to rising star Oleksandr Usyk of the Ukraine. Glowacki is the only fighter to go the full distance with Usyk. At the moment Glowacki is undergoing rehabilitation after surgery on his right hand, and his ring return can happen in April at the earliest.

Last year, Glowacki was involved in a Fight of The Year candidate on American television, when he got off the floor to score a knockout victory over heavy favorite and longtime world champion Marco Huck

Yuri Tarantin covers boxing for Allboxing.ru