Murat Gassiev hits back at WBA regarding plans for Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury

Murat Gassiev has hit back at reports that Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury could fight for the WBA ‘super’ heavyweight title.

The reigning WBA heavyweight beltholder says neither he nor his team was consulted before reports emerged that the vacant ‘super’ title could be at stake when Joshua and Fury are supposed to meet in Cardiff on December 11.

“Nobody asked me or my team anything before this decision,” Gassiev wrote on Instagram.

"I have defended this title in the ring, not in a press release.

"I am ready to fight anyone – Fury, Joshua, anybody – tomorrow, next month, whenever suits.

"That has never been a question for me.

"I would not accept the situation when champion’s future is decided on paper, not in the ring."

Gassiev’s representatives have also lodged a formal objection with the WBA and demanded clarification over the sanctioning body’s plans.

“If anyone should be fighting for the WBA super heavyweight title, it is Murat Gassiev, the reigning champion, not two boxers who currently hold no world title between them,” said John Wirt, Gassiev’s co-promoter and legal counsel.

"Allowing the WBA’s number two [Fury] and number three [Joshua] contenders to bypass the number one contender [Jarrell Miller] and the reigning champion [Gassiev] himself would be an extraordinary and, to our knowledge, unprecedented decision.

"We have formally requested that the WBA confirm or deny these reports and provide the grounds for any such decision.

"At an absolute minimum, Murat must be given the opportunity to be heard and to fight for super champion status before that status is awarded to anyone else.

"Our client’s rights in this matter are fully reserved."

The dispute stems from reports that the WBA intends to resurrect its ‘super’ championship for Joshua-Fury, despite Gassiev currently being recognised as its heavyweight champion.

Gassiev initially won the organisation’s secondary title, widely described as the ‘regular’ title, when he stopped Kubrat Pulev in Dubai last December.

When Oleksandr Usyk relinquished his world titles in June, Gassiev was left as the WBA’s sole heavyweight titlist and subsequently defended his belt against Peter Kadiru in July.

Gassiev’s team says it has yet to receive an explanation from the WBA regarding the matter.