Kubrat Venkov Pulev vs. Murat Georgievich Gassiev & Bakhodur Usmonov vs. Daniel Maxi Hughes RBR.

Pulev should retire. The guy is taking too much damage.

 

Really lovely KO. Although Gassiev really isn’t a threat at all to the HWs.

Could be a decent opponent for Itauma.

 

Is Gassiev that past it? Don’t get me wrong great KO, but hes never been close to a title shot at HW.

He was a very good CW but just didnt translate that to the HWs.

 

Well, I think it's retirement time for Pulev, no..... ?

As for Gassiev, I like that idea of feeding him to Itauma. But I like even better the idea of another successful CW -- Opetaia -- moving up and taking Gassiev's new belt (sure, it's only a "WBA Regular" title, whatever that is ... but it's still a belt...). But of course Opetaia is determined first to unify the CW belts, which will chew up all of 2026 if not well into 2027....

 

Gassiev vs. Andy Ruiz should get made.

 

I'm glad Gassiev got his WBA WrestleMania moment.

 

Fair play to Pulev, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone so hurt trying so hard to get up off the canvas to continue fighting

 

He's absolutely passed it. Pulev isn't a spring chicken and he was teeing off at times and doing fairly well in general before being chinned. Prime Gassiev wouldn't have taken that long to KO a 44 year old who's prime was 10+ years ago. All of the injuries, inactivity have taken their toll. He gets Wallin'd again by decently sized HW who knows how box and move a bit. Would like to see him vs. Chisora or Hunter next. Those are fun winnable fights against named highly ranked contenders. Anyone who stands in front of him and is willing to trade would be fun to see. But little to no chance against the elite of the division.

 

He’s lost once at HW, not sure the experiment is a failure.

 

Had to work today so could not follow along, but just want to drop in and congratulate my man Murat. Those of you saying that the fight was terrible, the belt is meaningless, Pulev was washed...could all be true, and yet none of it matters a lick. Now that he has this belt, the fights are going to come to him, so his career gets a second chance, and if Usyk retires or drops the WBA belt, there is the very real possibility he could be "elevated" to the real WBA champ, or at least allowed to fight for it.

Hopefully Ituama goes another route, because I don't like that fight for him. But #2, #3 and #4 are Lenier Pero, Martin Bakole, and Nelson Hysa. None of those, including fatass Bakole, are unwinable for him.

 

Yeah he can probably cash out. But it's hard to have faith in him defeating anyone actually relevant. I wasn't able to catch the fight either(would have tuned in for the train wreck appeal if I could) but upon reviewing highlights it was a sad affair indeed. Pulev despite being 12 years his senior was actually piecing him up at times and very much in the fight prior to being KO'd. a younger HW like Itauma who he might well be fed to pieces him up, Wardley batters him, they all beat him. I'd pick a "fit" (hahaha) Bakole to beat him. Even a fatter than usual Bakole who was just KO'd by Parker was able to draw with Ajagba who lets be real is better than a geriatric Pulev. As a pure fan Hunter and Chisora are fights i'd like to see. Hunter for the epic CW fight that never happened and for him to be hopefully taken out to pasture(Post pandemic Hunter sucks and is a drain on the sport) Chisora because he would invite Gassiev to trade punches which could make for an epic fight. Those are highly ranked opponents that he would have a good shot at beating. If he fights a guy like Itauma its cash out time and the dream is dead for good. If he carried on after that it would be just as a journeyman.

 

Just watched it. I don't think it was as terrible a fight as some are making out. Pulev was Pulev, and as I predicted, his skills of being big with a great jab aged well and he was able to win most rounds off the smaller man. Then Gassiev was Gassiev, and that was it. Pretty much what I thought was going to happen.

That notwithstanding, yeah, Gassiev needs to pick up the pace a little if he is going to fight big-time heavies. If he's going to fight Hysa next, or even Bakole, he'll be fine as is.