A version of the heavyweight championship has changed hands following a devastating one-punch knockout.
Russia’s former IBF cruiserweight champion Murat Gassiev captured the WBA ‘regular’ world heavyweight title with a brutal 6th round stoppage over Kubrat Pulev at the Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Dubai.
Gassiev caught the durable Bulgarian with a near-perfect left hook at the halfway stage of the bout, sending him to the canvas before referee Rafael Ramos was forced to call a halt to the action.
The moment Murat Gassiev FLATTENED Kubrat Pulev 👀pic.twitter.com/Zj5QbuVSEt
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) December 12, 2025
It had been suggested by multiple sources in the last few weeks that the winner of the clash between Gassiev and Pulev would be in line to lock horns with unbeaten British contender Moses Itauma next, something that has now been revealed by Director of the IBA Al Siesta.
Itauma was recently announced as the mandatory challenger for the WBA regular title, although the 20-year-old from Kent is currently gearing up to face America’s Jermaine Franklin in Manchester on January 24.
Gassiev could make the first defence of his WBA crown against Itauma at some point in 2026, should the highly-rated Brit come through his upcoming clash with Franklin unscathed.
The Russian is also now close to a potential rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, who holds the full version of the belt. Usyk beat Gassiev in 2018 to become undisputed cruiserweight champion.
