Why doesn't Muslim Gadzhimagomedov move up he would be a top 5 heavyweight

Hes an unmarketable Russian, and has nothing waiting for him at heavyweight.
Plus he not that big at all. He looks pretty filled out, despite weighing in at 210 against Mchunu.

IBA has some money backing it, so Muslim is probably making decent paydays. Bridgerweight is the easiest, and quickest path for him to gain recognition. He already picked up the WBA Bridgerweight title while building his resume. Eventually they will use this momentum to make some sort of a move at Heavyweight, probably, once he has a bigger profile.
He is still only 6-0.

And Muslim does have one interesting fight at Bridger, that being against Julio Cesar La Cruz, who is the nr 1 contender for the WBA.
La Cruz is clearly past his physical prime, but it should be a fun one.

 

La Cruz beat him twice as an amateur.

 

His ‘win’ against Julio Cesar La Cruz in the IBA was one of the worst robberies i’ve ever seen. He lost all 5 rounds and still got the decision. I think he could maybe break into the top ten at heavyweight if matched right, but he’s not gonna trouble the top guys. Didn’t look great against Mchunu.

More interesting question is how would La Cruz do as a pro? Not in those Cuba-sanctioned pro events but as a full time pro. I think he could do pretty well.

 

l love Julio Cesar De La Cruz but I think he's way too long in the tooth to really do much of anything as a pro. Absolutely stellar amateur and a beautiful stylist to watch, but he has clearly faded and for someone who relies so extensively on his athletic gifts to win fights I think he's been struggling to beat and losing to guys he would have trounced a couple years ago. I think he's really unlikely that he'd be able to get a pro career even off the ground at 35, let alone trying to win a title. He might try to win another Pan Am gold medal or a world championship but I think he'll probably retire soon.

 

No ones contributing anything to the talent pool at HW because a certain someone whose supposedly the peak of human evolution refuses to fight new people.

Being ranked top 5 at HW by one of several sanctioning bodies gets you nothing right now. Just look at Okolie. Where did moving up to HW and getting into the top 5 get him? Hes literally fighting the same guy he'd have fought at BW if he'd stayed just at HW and not for a title. Playing champ at BW is much better oppurtunity. Muslims 28 hes got time. Becoming a divisional GOAT can actually get him an instant title shot in a few years. Today hes not getting it.

 

He's not that good, sadly. I like his fights, but he's not reaching for stars, is he?

If he was eyeing heavy, he would not have fought Mchunu in a non-title, but a real heavy.