Can someone please explain Murat Gassiev's heavyweight ranking?

Itauma has avoided him. They called out Pulev and Warren considered a lawsuit when they fought Gassiev instead. That is because he had the WBA regular title--a plausible path to a shot at the real title. Now that Gassiev is that path, they can't find him.

Nothing you said is really relevant to the situation. The relevant part is that he owns and is the path to being the WBA#1 contender through the regular title. If he was so awful, then guys would be lining up to take the #1 WBA spot from him.

 

Him being #9 with the Ring and TBRB isn't awful given the lethargic state of the division (especially with both Okolie and Parker failing PED tests).

I guess there is no particular rush for contenders to target Gassiev's secondary title. In theory, Gassiev has a route to Usyk (or will be considered WBA champion should Usyk retire). In practice, the WBA is in the queue behind Kabayel (WBC) and Usyk may yet still double back for the WBO.

Gassiev is probably content to sit on his spot unless the money is right. Other contenders will likely start targeting him once Usyk looks likely to fight Kabayel post-KickBoxer

It seems Itauma may try for the WBO route to a full title. Though I agree they went awfully quiet on Gassiev

 

But the reality is that as soon as Usyk decides to retire or abandon the belt, which could happen any time, the holder becomes the next e-mail champion. So there is no reason whatsoever not to be targeting this belt.

Gassiev has been calling on Itauma every interview. He wants the smoke.

 

The guy whose only win at HW is a 44 year old Pulev being ranked in the top 10 isn't awful? And he lost to Otto Wallin?

It's awful. I'm not surprised at all that someone quoting the "TBRB" takes no issue with Gassiev at #9. What a joke.

 

One could easily place him outside the top 20 though so a number 9 ranking seems pretty silly.

You could even argue for him being outside the top 25 quite comfortably

 

Probably being set up as the next paper champion

 

They're setting him up to be a "Top 10 Heavyweight Boxer!!" that an A-side fighter can easily dispatch to fluff their resume. Exact same thing that they tried to pull with Otto Wallin.

 

The heavyweight division at the moment isn't in the best shape. Gassiev took a year out since losing to Wallin, then had three fights and beat Pulev.

Its not great but it is better than most. He is basically the number 10 heavyweight (Usyk being ranked at C). To me that is much of a muchness. Guys like Dominic Breazeale have held that spot in the past.

Well...it would help if the other heavyweights could actually scrape some decent wins together.

Miller hasnt had a decent win in years.
Neither has Ortiz
Neither has Joyce
Neither has Sanchez
Neither has Joshua
Ruiz is inactive
Zhang is inactive
Wilder made hard work of a guy on par with Pulev
Okolie is serving a PED ban
Parker is serving a PED ban
Huni's big recent win is Frazier Clark...

The division looks bloody awful if we are being honest here.

The winner of Torrez v Sanchez will likely push him out the top 10.

 

I agree division is pretty bad.

Kabayel is on a good run. Itauma and Torrez Jr have some potential, especially Itauma. If Opetaia moves up, it will give some strength to it too. But as it stands, it ain’t a great division.

 

Beating a 44 year old Pulev is not an impressive win in my book and the Wallin loss certainly doesn't indicate he deserves a top 10 rating

Torrez over Vianello and Miller over Pero are likely better wins. Even Frazer Clarke likely trumps an ancient Pulev

 

Don’t buy into the hype around Gassiev. He’s like a ticking time bomb waiting to be knocked out. The first serious heavyweight opponent he faces will wreck him.

 

This is a pretty good assessment. Once you get past the top five-ish it starts to get pretty subjective due to inactivity of the division and guys fighting lesser competition. I'd say at least Miller has two wins this year already and against guys not in the top ten but not exactly hopeless journeymen either.