The Russian boxer Murat Gassievof 32 yearsworld champion WBA of the heavy weightsspeak exclusively with BRAND of his plans and concerns, now that he has become a historic boxer in his country having been the first world champion of the cruiser weight and of heavy weight. But this doesn’t make him stick out his chest. “It’s not pride that I feel, I’m happy because I work hard and thanks to that the results come,” he says.
The past July 11in it VTB Arena of Moscow, Gassiev He retained his title against the German Peter Kadiru with great support from the Russian public. “The fans encouraged me a lot, and it was one of the best galas that can be done today, thanks to the support of the president of the IBAUmar Kremlev”.
But despite the easy victory in the sixth roundhis rival did not disappoint him: “When an opponent does not have much to lose, he can be very dangerous. I thank him for accepting the fight and trying to win until the end.” Now, the monarch just wants to rest, without thinking further: “I am recovering, taking care of my health, and in two or three weeks I go back to training. I don’t know anything about the upcoming commitments, my friends will take care of that. promoters”.
Emilio Marquiegui with Murat Gassiev.
Murat Gassiev He was born in a small Russian republic, in North Ossetiain which the national sport is the struggle. “I started practicing wrestling to emulate the great champions we had, but I didn’t get great results. I got to know the boxing to the 15 years already the 17 I debuted as a professional, I have already fifteen seasons”.
Since then, he has disputed 36 fights with 34 wins, 27 of them for KO. He just lost two and by points, with the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usykwhich won him the world titles of cruiser weightand with the Swedish Otto Wallin. “For me, the best times of the great weights were those of Muhammad Alithen interest dropped, and after the hegemony of the Klitschkohe heavy weight He is now in a great moment.”
I think there is no country like Russia with so many boxers who can compete at the highest level.
He does not forget his compatriot Alexander Povetkin, olympic championbut he did not become world champion. “For me, he is still the best, even though he is now retired.” He russian boxing It continues to be very powerful and is recovering ground on the world stage. “I believe that there is no country like Russia with so many boxers who can compete at the highest level. Kremlev He is supporting us a lot. We have Dmitry Bivol, Artur Beterbievand many more.”
He has also had an idol who is not Russian. “I started admiring fellow boxers like Povetkin, Denis Lebedev either Kostya Tzyubut then I paid close attention to KazakhGennady Golovkin“I learned a lot from him, from his discipline, from his excellent work.”
Last Saturday, the former world champion Anthony Joshua had a difficult fight against an inferior opponent, falling to the canvas twice, although winning by KO a few minutes later. “We cannot judge from one fight whether Joshua is finished or not, we will know when he faces his compatriot Tyson Fury“And regarding this important and high-profile confrontation at the end of the year, Gassiev knows that he is late. “This fight should have happened ago. five yearswhen Fury faced Deontay Wilderbut it is the same thing that happened with the confrontation between Pacquiao and Mayweather”.
We cannot judge from one fight whether Joshua is finished or not, we will know when he faces his compatriot Tyson Fury
The champion is a familiar person who takes advantage of breaks to enjoy his own. “When it was world champion of the cruiser weighthad long concentrations of five or six months And what I wanted most afterwards was to be with family and friends, travel to the mountains and forget about training.”
Finally, advance who you would like to face in the next fight. “Any boxer Having the titles is ideal for me. I’m not young, it’s not my first day in boxing and that’s why I’m not afraid of anyone, only myself. mother“, he comments with a smile. Although he looks forward to the moment. “I simply need to know the place, the date, the rival, and I will be there.” The new champion is a tough fighter, with explosive hands, and he will surely star in great fights in the coming months. Pay close attention to the Vladikavkaz bear, Murat Gassiev.
