Kubrat Venkov Pulev vs. Murat Georgievich Gassiev

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by IntentionalButt, Dec 7, 2025.


"The Cobra" or "The Iron"?

Poll closed Dec 12, 2025.

  1. Pulev on points

    9 vote(s)
    20.9%

  2. Pulev by stoppage

    3 vote(s)
    7.0%

  3. Draw

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  4. Gassiev on points

    8 vote(s)
    18.6%

  5. Gassiev by stoppage

    23 vote(s)
    53.5%
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  1. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA Full Member

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    December twelfth at the Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Dubai. WBA regular heavyweight championship at stake, 1st defense of Pulev.

    One guy who is 44 years old and whose peak was over a decade ago versus a 32 year old whose prime (and last run of relevant victories) was at cruiserweight 7-8 years ago. What fun! Thank you WBA for always giving the fans what they want and making your title lineages so meaningful.

    The incumbent from Bulgaria has a 2" height and 3½″ reach advantage over his Russian challenger, and based on their respective recent weigh-ins will likely have a functional weight advantage of at least 25-30lbs. Gassiev in turn has nearly double the KO rate of Pulev and, as mentioned, is a dozen years younger.
     
    IntentionalButt, Dec 7, 2025
    IntentionalButt, Dec 7, 2025
    #1
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  2. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

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    I am hoping and predicting that Gassiev gets the stoppage, but this is an either-way fight. Pulev's success is based on the fact that he is a big boy, has a punishing jab, and a good chin against anyone not named Klitschko or Joshua. Those are not skill that necessarily erode badly with age.
     
    catchwtboxing, Dec 7, 2025
    catchwtboxing, Dec 7, 2025
    #2
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  3. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA Full Member

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    I remember you were skeptical this would even happen. Guess we'll know for sure in 5 days. :sisi1
     
    IntentionalButt, Dec 7, 2025
    IntentionalButt, Dec 7, 2025
    #3
    catchwtboxing and Pepsi Dioxide like this.
  4. Pepsi Dioxide

    Pepsi Dioxide Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Pulev looks shot, still has a jab which is enough to beat lesser fighters. He looked unsteady to me against Charr though he won. Gassiev "should" KO him.
     
    Pepsi Dioxide, Dec 7, 2025
    Pepsi Dioxide, Dec 7, 2025
    #4
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  5. MagnificentMatt

    MagnificentMatt Beterbiev literally kills Plant and McCumby 2v1 Full Member

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    The WBA is amazing.
     
    MagnificentMatt, Dec 7, 2025
    MagnificentMatt, Dec 7, 2025
    #5
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  6. Oddone

    Oddone Bermane Stiverne's life coach. Full Member

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    Well stated.

    I'm going to print this on some T-shirts and sell them online until I get sued.
     
    Oddone, Dec 7, 2025
    Oddone, Dec 7, 2025
    #6
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  7. KiwiMan

    KiwiMan Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    This. I think Gassiev probably should win but he's only a shadow of his former self and Pulev has retained enough that he might just jab Gassiev to a decision.
     
    KiwiMan, Dec 7, 2025
    KiwiMan, Dec 7, 2025
    #7
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  8. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

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    I would like to purchase one.
     
    catchwtboxing, Dec 7, 2025
    catchwtboxing, Dec 7, 2025
    #8
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  9. ellerbe

    ellerbe Loyal Member Full Member

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    After Usyk took Gassievs soul dude has been done. It’s sad, cause Canelo for example got better after he got schooled by Floyd, Gassiev didn’t have the mentality to learn from that fight and regressed badly. He could’ve been the cruiser GGG
     
    ellerbe, Dec 7, 2025
    ellerbe, Dec 7, 2025
    #9
  10. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

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    He had multiple injuries. Nothing to do with his soul.
     
    catchwtboxing, Dec 7, 2025
    catchwtboxing, Dec 7, 2025
    #10
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  11. CST80

    CST80 The Hesitant Nihilist Staff Member

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    Pulev has degraded a lot in the last few years, the fact that the first Chisora match in spite of the bull**** SD was almost a Pulev shutout, whereas the rematch was a legit close win for Chisora or a draw, is all the proof you need. He was rocked by Shevadzutskyi and Forrest, while laboring to boring uneventful decisions against Charr and Wawrzyk, the latter he has no excuse for not stopping. Gassiev's main weakness is southpaws, so in all likelihood, he tears through Pulev like chili diarrhea through a screen door.:sisi1 He'll stop this version of Poolev quicker than AJ, possibly with a body shot.
     
    CST80, Dec 7, 2025
    CST80, Dec 7, 2025
    #11
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  12. destruction

    destruction Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    This fight depends on whether Murat Gassiev is fit or not, and is over all the injuries that have destroyed his career in recent years and caused so many pull outs.

    If he is then he is the favourite here against an ancient Pulev. However, no one really knows how fit Gassiev is for this fight. This is a really difficult one to pick.
     
    destruction, Dec 7, 2025
    destruction, Dec 7, 2025
    #12
  13. CroBox29

    CroBox29 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    All the best to these two warriors, the fight will be world class and could overshadow other fights...
     
    CroBox29, Dec 8, 2025
    CroBox29, Dec 8, 2025
    #13
  14. HistoryZero26

    HistoryZero26 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I think it will just be a regular fight.
     
    HistoryZero26, Dec 8, 2025
    HistoryZero26, Dec 8, 2025
    #14
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  15. GGGfans

    GGGfans Active Member Full Member

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    Wilder against the winner in february/march ?
     
    GGGfans, Dec 8, 2025
    GGGfans, Dec 8, 2025
    #15
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