Gassiev vs Usyk in jeopardy. Gassiev may fight Tabiti on July 21st in Russia instead.

[chrisJS]

sounds to me like someone is afraid to lose his 0

Sounds to me like someone might be ignorant to the fact Russia and Ukraine don't have a great relationship currently.

[Curt Henning]

lol...ya...first ive heard about that chris!

[TripleJ]

If one guy rightly doesn't want to fight in Russia then just have it somewhere else. This ruins the tournaments credibility severely. Usyk was under the impression it was in Saudi Arabia and then to be told it's in Russia given the politics involved.

Not cool. Not surprised either. Had a feeling a few months back this match-up was dead.

Agreed. Everyone in boxing knew Usyk wouldn't fight in Russia so why would it even be a consideration. The promoters are shooting themselves in the foot, this is the only fight at cruiserweight that matters right now and they could easily have made it ANYWHERE BUT RUSSIA. Smh

[chrisJS]

lol...ya...first ive heard about that chris!

I'm not surprised.

[Curt Henning]

I'm not surprised.

that conflict has added hours to flights into honk kong for me.....but ya..I usually don't concern myself with transpirings outside of my home state of RI

[chrisJS]

Agreed. Everyone in boxing knew Usyk wouldn't fight in Russia so why would it even be a consideration. The promoters are shooting themselves in the foot, this is the only fight at cruiserweight that matters right now and they could easily have made it ANYWHERE BUT RUSSIA. Smh

It really hurts the credibility of the tournament. Saudi Arabia was never going to host the final. The Middle East investors never come through with Boxing. They should have had a back-up. NYC or U.K would be good options for this final too.

[chrisJS]

that conflict has added hours to flights into honk kong for me.....but ya..I usually don't concern myself with transpirings outside of my home state of RI

So now you know of the conflict and Usyk being a proud Ukranian can you understand why he may prefer a more neutral territory for the fight? After all that is what he signed off on when he entered the tournament. Two fights on the road (Germany and Latvia) and then a neutral territory for the final.

[Curt Henning]

So now you know of the conflict and Usyk being a proud Ukranian can you understand why he may prefer a more neutral territory for the fight? After all that is what he signed off on when he entered the tournament. Two fights on the road (Germany and Latvia) and then a neutral territory for the final.

right...which is exactly why the destination should have been off the table to begin with

[kafkod]

Everything depends on the contract signed between Usyk and WBSS.
I guess no one here has seen it.
Obviously WBSS will earn much more if the cruiserweight final will happen in Russia.
Usyk may have his opinion where fights should be happening, but professional boxing is a showbusiness.

If it was Gassiev vs Usyk, then yes. Not so sure about Gassiev vs Tabiti doe.

[chrisJS]

right...which is exactly why the destination should have been off the table to begin with

It most likely was. The middle east always talks about hosting fights and then doesn't cough up the funds. I'm amazed the tournament organizers a) didn't consider this and b) would said Russia or nothing.

It basically killed all the hard work they put in. Sucks for Gassiev too but hard to hold it against him he's just a fighter and he can't exactly say "My country is a **** place for a Ukranian to come get a fair shake".

BOTH guys miss an amazing opportunity. The suggestion that either is scared is pathetic IMO.