Cruiserweight and Heavyweight thread.

Latest interview with Murat Gasiev:

Murat, last year, answering the question about the fee for which you would agree to box with Lebedev, you said that Denis is your idol since childhood, and you are ready to box him even for free. Has everything changed now?

- I'm not a star now. I just got the belt of the IBF world champion, that's all. Everyone was very happy for me in my native North Ossetia. Mom, brother, friends. At home, they met very warmly, very well. There were a lot of people at the airport. This, of course, is very pleasant.

- And with Denis Lebedev after your fight, did you somehow communicate?

- No, we did not cross.

- You will soon have a fight with Wlodarczyk. How do you assess your chances?

- According to the rules of the World Boxing Super Series, four world champions could choose any opponent. My opponent Krzysztof Wlodarczyk is a mandatory IBF contender. Therefore, in order not to violate the rules, we decided to choose him as an opponent.

I'm in the camp of Sanchez

- Have you already begun to prepare for the battle with Wlodarczyk?

- Yes, I recently arrived in the US, I will prepare for the meeting here. I was at home in Vladikavkaz, went to the draw and then returned here. Now I'm in Abel Sanchez's camp at Big Beer Lake. We train, as always, together, nothing changes. The battle of Krzysztof Wlodarczyk has not yet been reviewed. I have acclimatization now, but then I'll definitely check it out.

- Krzysztof is a difficult opponent for you?

- A very serious opponent. This same ex-world champion immediately on two versions. Many fights were held in the professional ring. And I think that I have a good test of combat qualities, besides, in the battle with him, I will gain a lot of experience.

- Wlodarczyk was a rival of Grigory Drozd when he was still in the professional ring. You did not communicate with Drozd on the subject of the Pole?

- Grigori and I are different boxers in the manner of fighting. We have different styles. I have a coach, I need to go to the ring myself and box. I do not like to ask about the strengths and weaknesses of an opponent. It turns out that I will adapt to it in this case. In the ring, I need to realize what I do best so that I do not have to adjust to anyone.



- And do you already know where your fight with Krzysztof will take place?

- No, it is still unknown, negotiations are under way, I'm waiting. Most likely, this fight will take place in the USA. By and large, for me it does not matter where the fight is organized. The main thing is a rival, a ring. I would like, of course, that the battle took place at home, in Russia, with great pleasure, boxing on my native land. But here everything depends on the organizers. My task is to go into the ring and box. And the venue is already the work of promoters.

- Now in Russia, there are global changes in boxing. Amateur boxing wants to combine with the professional. What do you think about it?

- To be honest, I do not follow what is happening in amateur boxing. Not interested. In my life and so boxing is too much, every day is training.

- You live in America long enough. Do not you already have a language barrier?

- Abel Sanchez is my teacher not only in boxing but also in learning English. We try to talk to him constantly. Of course, my level of conversational English became much higher than it was when I arrived. For the third year, I have been across the ocean. I am very glad that I got into this room. I have the best coach and the best hall today.


- Do not have time to miss Russia?

"The longest time I spent in the US is six months." The blessing now is a constant communication with relatives. Of course, you miss home, but you understand with your mind that it is moving away from here. In the foreground is the main goal. Training. Preparation. Why did you come here?

- Do you have no desire to follow the example of Sergei Kovalev and stay in the US?

- No, I want to live only in Russia. I feel calmer at home.

- Did you watch Kovalyov's fight with Ward?

- I did not watch the whole fight, but I know that Sergey lost. I do not see any bias. I do not think that Kovalyov was condemned, and Ward got the victory undeservedly. Why? It's all up to the judges. The judge considered that it was necessary to stop the fight. I think we could continue this fight. But the judge knows best.

- And what would you like to achieve in boxing?

- Become an absolute champion of the world. First of all, I need to win from Wlodarczyk, and there we will gradually move.

- What are you going to do after the end of your career? Do you see yourself in boxing?

- I can not look into the future. Let everything go its course. With God's help, everything will be fine, without injuries, and then we'll see. The first is my fight with Krzysztof Wlodarczyk. And there will be seen.

- Do you communicate closely with one of those guys with whom you went to draw in Monaco?

- Only with Dmitry Kudryashov. We do not support communication, if we cross somewhere, we always communicate with pleasure. Friendly communication and all. And I do not know anyone personally.

Murat Hassiev
He was born on October 12, 1993 in Vladikavkaz.
Height 192 cm. The range of arms is 193 cm.
I started boxing in 2007, I received a professional status in 2011.
He fought 25 fights in the professional ring, won 24 wins (1 fight was declared a no contest).
In 2016, he won the IBF World Heavyweight Title.

 

Jun Long Zhang/Osborne Machimana KO 1.Jun won WBA Oceania heavyweight title.

 

Eddie Hearn‏Verified account @EddieHearn 15m15 minutes ago


Big news coming this afternoon! @SkySportsBoxing

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Martin Bakole Ilunga talks about his brother loss to Tony Bellew:

“I want to avenge that defeat for my brother,” he said. “It was not used as an excuse at the time but he suffered a knee injury in that fight and eventually it required surgery. He should not have lost but I would love the chance to fight Bellew.”

 

Francesco Pianeta back on October 14