More than a month after successfully defending his heavyweight world title against Peter Kadiru, Murat Gassiev has stepped away from boxing — for the moment.
The 32-year-old returned to Vladikavkaz after IBA PRO 19 in Moscow, where he stopped Kadiru in the sixth round to complete the first defence of the title he won against Kubrat Pulev. There was no extended celebration or dramatic change in routine. Gassiev simply returned home after spending almost five months away during training camp.
“Globally, nothing has changed,” Gassiev said. “I was at home in Vladikavkaz, spending time with my family, people close to me and my friends. I ate national food and spent time in the mountains. I had been away from home for five months and missed it very much. I defended the title and, you could say, another fight simply came to an end.”
For now, boxing has been deliberately pushed into the background. Negotiations over Gassiev’s next fight are continuing, but the champion says he has not yet been given a specific opponent, venue, or date.
“At the moment, I do not have any information about my next fight,” he said. “Negotiations are taking place, and different options and opponents are being considered. I am resting now and completely switched off from boxing. As soon as there is something concrete — an opponent and a location — I will immediately start training.”
‘I prefer to show everything in the ring’
Two prominent heavyweight names have recently been linked with Gassiev: Derek Chisora and Jarrell Miller.
Gassiev knows Chisora well and has previously described the British heavyweight as a friend. That relationship has not changed despite Chisora’s provocative social media posts suggesting a possible clash between the pair.
“That is his style and the way he behaves,” Gassiev explained. “There is nothing unusual about it. He promotes himself in the way he knows how, and he remains a big name in boxing. My attitude towards him does not change because I know what to expect from him. These kinds of statements and social media posts are very popular now. Personally, I do not welcome it. I have never behaved that way; I prefer to show everything in the ring.”
That does not mean Gassiev has completely ruled out meeting Chisora in the ring.
“Everything is possible if it makes sense for my career and my team supports it,” he said. “Why not? Derek remains dangerous despite having had a lot of fights, and there is always something interesting when he is in the ring.”
The prospect nevertheless creates an unusual situation for Gassiev because of the deep value he places on personal loyalty.
“I have never hit a friend in my life,” he said. “A friend occupies a special place in my heart. After family and my parents, a friend is one of the closest people you can have. I take friendship very seriously. I would hit someone to defend a friend, but I would never hit my friend.”
Dismissing Miller’s provocations
Jarrell Miller has taken a more confrontational approach in attempting to draw Gassiev’s attention, including satirical social media posts aimed at the Russian champion. Gassiev has little interest in engaging.
“Sport is first of all about respect for each other and respect for your opponent,” he said. “For me, sport represents something good, clean and genuine. I am 32 years old; I am not at an age where I am going to be offended by things like that. I have been in professional sport for many years and have given it my time, my physical strength and my mental strength. I understand why he does it. He is trying to create interest around himself.”
Asked whether such attempts could get under his skin, Gassiev was unequivocal:
“I can say with complete confidence that I have never fallen for those provocations and I never will. They do not throw me off balance.”
For Gassiev, the physical reality of the division far outweighs pre-fight rhetoric.
“When somebody weighs more than 100 kilograms, anybody is dangerous,” he said. “It does not matter whether he is a beginner or an experienced boxer. There can never be any underestimation. I prepare with complete seriousness for every opponent.”
‘Joshua and Fury are five years late’
Away from his own career, Gassiev continues to watch developments across a heavyweight landscape undergoing another transition. A potential meeting between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury remains one of boxing’s biggest commercial fixtures, though Gassiev believes its sporting pinnacle has passed.
“Joshua and Fury are five years late with this fight,” he said. “It would have been much more interesting earlier. But we have what we have. If the fight happens now, that is good. If it does not happen, nobody is going to see it as a tragedy. I would watch it with pleasure. It would be interesting to see what they can both show in the ring.”
Gassiev still believes both men remain capable of delivering an elite spectacle.
“They are both dangerous for each other and, in general, for any heavyweight,” he said. “If the fight takes place in England, I am sure they would fill Wembley. They are global stars and icons in their own country.”
Fury, in particular, remains an intriguing proposition for Gassiev to assess.
“Fury is an amazing athlete and an amazing boxer,” he said. “Against a weak opponent he can sometimes look ordinary himself, but when there is a skilled, experienced boxer in front of him, he can produce something incredible in the ring.”
Heavyweights then and now
Gassiev is considerably more direct when comparing the current heavyweight crop with the era of Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, and Evander Holyfield.
“If you compare today’s heavyweight division with the era of Lewis, Tyson and Holyfield, most of today’s heavyweights would have had no chance,” he said. “There may be a few who could compete with them, but the boxers of that time were on another level. That is simply my personal opinion. I am not imposing it on anyone.”
At the same time, Gassiev believes another heavyweight generation is gaining momentum.
“There is a new wave now, a revival,” he said. “There was a period when the Klitschkos were at the top and there were not that many other famous names. Now there are a lot of young and promising guys.”
However, the margin for error remains razor-thin.
“One punch can change everything,” Gassiev noted. “All of your plans, your promoter’s plans, your manager’s plans and your team’s plans can disappear in a second.”
Russian talent approaching the summit
When asked to identify the next generation of standouts, Gassiev focused on domestic prospects closing in on major international honours, highlighting Sharabutdin Ataev and Pavel Sosulin.
“We have a lot of young boxers who are already getting close to titles,” Gassiev said. “They are high in the rankings and getting close to fighting for championships. Sharabutdin Ataev, Pavel Sosulin — there are many promising fighters proving themselves right now. I am sure that when they get their opportunity, they will make full use of it. I wish them huge success because they are young, ambitious and hungry to win. I want Russia to have as many world champions as possible, like Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev.”
No favourites in heavyweight boxing
Looking at the international scene, the upcoming clash between rising British talent Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgović stands out as a defining test. Gassiev firmly rejects the narrative that the experienced Croatian is merely a stepping stone.
“I would not use a word like ‘victim’,” he said. “This is heavyweight boxing. Anything can happen. Hrgović has an enormous heart, a warrior’s heart. He has been through very difficult fights, taken a lot of punishment and continued fighting and moving forward. His opponent is young, ambitious, fast and technically sharp. Anything can happen in that ring.”
His assessment remains split down the middle:
“In heavyweight boxing, I give it 50-50 because either one of them can end the fight at any second.”
Should Gassiev’s own path cross with Itauma, Hrgović, Chisora, Miller, or another top contender, his mindset remains uncompromising.
“I am interested in any fight that is useful for me, my career and moving forward,” Gassiev said. “What would I do against them? I would try to win, of course. I do everything possible to win against every opponent I face. I love winning, and I want to experience that feeling as often as possible.”
