Training of a Russian boxer Murata Gassieva went well, this was reflected in the result of the fight with the Dane Kem Ljungqvist, who is significantly stronger than the Swede Otto Wallin. Gassiev’s coach Vitaly Slanov spoke to about this.
On Saturday in Yerevan, Gassiev knocked out Ljungqvist in the fifth round of the IBA Night of Champions tournament with a blow to the liver. The Russian is 31 years old, the last time he entered the ring was at the end of September 2023 in Turkey, when he lost to the Swede Otto Wallin by split decision in a fight for the second line of the IBF ranking .
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– Everything was expected. I told our promoters before the fight that Murat hasn’t been this ready for a long time. The hernia was in the way, so they had neck surgery. Yes, and before all this there were injuries or moments. And now the preparation has gone well. When you have a fight in two years, you don’t feel the ring as well, and what’s more, the opponent was big.
I think Ljungqvist is much stronger than Wallin. It’s just that in the fight with the Swede Murat was not doing well – then the weight dropped, there were poisonings, the preparation went badly. But then Murat wanted to box. And now all the preparation steps went well. Murat is fine now. You can’t judge by the fight with Wallin, he just wasn’t ready at that point. Although, in my opinion, even in this state he confidently won the fight against Wallin,” Slanov told .
Gassiev was the WBA and IBF cruiserweight champion. Since 2020, the Russian has competed in the heavyweight category. In the professional ring, the Russian won 31 victories and suffered two defeats.
IBA Night of Champions Series tournaments are broadcast live on and Match! Fighter”, as well as on the sites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.
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Source : MatchTV
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
