According to the TASS media agency, the former unified WBA, IBF cruiserweight champion of the world, Murat Gassiev, is about to change his promotional situation.
“My contract with the present promoters has come to an end. I’m not going to renew the agreement, because they haven’t performed in good faith with it. I haven’t been getting fights. I’m presently obtaining a license [in Russia], and I’m getting ready for a fight on October 31 in Sochi," said Gassiev (26-1, 19 KOs) to TASS.
Gassiev, who just turned 27 years old on Monday, is about to make his heavyweight debut at the “Stoloto Boxing Festival” against Albanian Sefer Seferi (24-3-1, 22 KOs) at the WOW Arena in the resort district of Krasnaya Polyana.
Seferi is a recent replacement for heavyweight veteran journeyman Kevin “The Kingpin” Johnson, who was first scheduled to fight Murat. Johnson withdrew after having issues with his passport.
Gassiev was previously co-promoted in a partnership between Warriors Boxing and Ural Boxing Promotions. He hasn’t been seen in the ring for over two years - with his last fight being a spirited but losing effort against Oleksandre Usyk in the World Boxing Super Series Season 1 Finale in Moscow, Russia.
The Russian fighter had to undergo shoulder surgery, and his fights have been rescheduled and/or cancelled several times during this time span.
