Oleksandr Usyk’s former foe crowned full world champion after title vacated

Murat Gassiev has officially been elevated to the primary WBA champion following Oleksandr Usyk’s decision to vacate his black and gold strap.

Usyk had held the full WBA title, known as the ‘super’ belt, since his lopsided unanimous decision victory over Anthony Joshua in London in 2021.

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However, last week, the Ukrainian announced that he would be relinquishing his WBA, WBC and IBF belts as he prepares for the last dance of his illustrious 25-0 professional career.

Earlier this week, Agit Kabayel was elevated from interim to full WBC heavyweight champion.

And now Gassiev, who picked up the secondary ‘regular’ belt by flattening a faded Kubrat Pulev last December, has also benefited from Usyk’s decision.

Gassiev becomes only the fourth man to win major world titles at both cruiserweight and heavyweight alongside Evander Holyfield, David Haye, and Usyk.

The heavy-handed Russian previously held the unified WBA and IBF 200lbs titles before dropping them to Usyk via unanimous decision in a four-belt shootout in 2018.

Gassiev will place his WBA world title on the line against 2016 Olympic gold medallist Tony Yoka on July 11 in Moscow, Russia.

Many anticipated that it would be WBA mandatory Moses Itauma standing across from Gassiev.

However, Itauma and his team opted to face Filip Hrgovic instead.

Touching upon the failed attempts to land a fight with Itauma, Gassiev recently told talkSPORT.com: “[In February] I said, ‘Ok, let’s talk.

“Some negotiations, some talks, some promoters, managers, teams, no problem. Just give me the location, time, date, and let’s fight.

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“But it’s boxing – this is a serious business. Maybe it’s not the perfect time for this fight right now.

“Maybe after July we will fight, or maybe next year.

“Moses has a good team, a good promoter, a good manager, and a good coach.

” [I think] his team makes this fight [with Hrgovic] because it is the best for him right now, because he’s young, maybe he doesn’t have the experience.

“Maybe for his career this fight with Hrgovic is perfect…

“My attention is on Tony. I watched the Olympic Games, [when] he won the gold medal.

“He is a big fighter with good boxing skills.

“This is a very, very hard fight for me. He beat the best fighters in the world as an amateur.

“He is a warrior, and he is coming to beat me, so I am ready for this.”

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