Las Vegas, NV - This past Friday night at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, world ranked lightweight Denis “Genghis Khan” Shafikov, (36-2-1, 19KO’s) and undefeated cruiserweight contender Murat “Iron” Gassiev, (22-0-0, 16KO’s) were featured in separate fights telecast on Spike TV.
Both fights ended in less than satisfactory matters with Shafikov and Gassiev coming up short despite putting on dominating performances.
“Denis and Murat both deserved much better than the scoring and poor referee’s judgment,” said Leo Khorolinsky of Ural Boxing Promotions, manager of both fighters.
“Denis fought brilliantly against Rances Barthelemy, (24-0-0, 13KO’s), for the vacant IBF Lightweight World Championship, for almost the entire fight he drilled him with perfect combinations while the opponent looked confused.”
“Despite being badly cut in the 8th round, Denis still pressed the action until the end. Barthelemy knew he was in trouble in the second half and resorted to multiple low blows which the referee did nothing about.”
At the end of the twelve rounds, Barthelemy was declared the unanimous decision victor by scores of 116-112 twice and an appalling 119-109.
Continued Khorolinsky, “For a judge to be so completely wrong and only give Denis one round tells me he’s not qualified to assess scores on a world championship level. The other two were also off in only giving Denis four rounds as he clearly and effectively pressed the action and won the fight.”
Featured in the co-main event in an IBF Cruiserweight Title Eliminator, Gassiev faced the also undefeated Isiah Thomas, 15-0-0 (6KO’s) of Detroit.
Stalking Thomas from the opening bell, Gassiev controlled the action as he cut off the ring and displayed his full arsenal of heavy-handed power shots.
At the end of the third round, Gassiev drilled Thomas with a massive overhand right to the head followed by a second similar punch that landed just after the sound of the bell ending the round.
Thomas returned to his corner claiming that he could not continue and referee Jay Nady sighting his “diminished capacity” stopped the bout and declared it a no-contest as the fight did not reach four rounds.
“Thomas was looking for a way out, he knew Gassiev’s power was too much and that he was going to get badly hurt,” said Khorolinsky. “If there is a rematch Murat will waste no time in attacking him and going for a true stoppage.”
“I have full faith in Denis and Murat becoming world champions, after the holidays they will both return to Big Bear Lake, California to commence training camps with Abel Sanchez. We’ll get both of them in the biggest fights possible in 2016.”
Manager: Shafikov, Gassiev Wronged By Fight Officials
Comments
tiliheelsTue Dec 22, 2015, 2:04 PM UTC
I guess you can make a case for different ways of handling the situation, a 5 min rest as you get for a low blow would've been the best, not sure of everything Nady was saying but he didn't seem to offer that and seemed to make up his mind before 1 min round break.
Saying Gassiev was looking for a way out seems like some real agenda-driven stuff, not a single second of what happened suggested that.
bro that punch was a day late and he was having no success..we dont know how good of a person gassiev is..we dont know his intentions but that mess has to be punished...the punch is not even close to near the bell..nady got in late, but regardless that fight was boring and he knows he heard that bell bc the crowd didnt care for their fight..thomas won all 3 rounds with punches gassieve didnt see...that type of stuff will make a fighter want out..ask duran..movement and someone hitting u will shots u are not ready for...
thomas looked badly hurt and im sure he went to a hospital..or looks as he should have went..my first thought was DQ
tiliheelsTue Dec 22, 2015, 4:26 AM UTC
gassiev fight isnt even worth talkin about he should have beend Dq'd they gave him a break more than wronging him..that punch was a year after the bell..no talkin the ref should have waved him off and gave thomas the fight..gassiev got his way out imo he couldnt do anything of note
and lord please man: rances dominated that dude from round 7 onward..and took early rounds as well..he gave shaf every opportunity by fighting the wrong style and shaf still couldnt get it done..manager just needs to accept that a person with rances toughnessa and skill has the potential to be an all time great if he stay disciplined. its obvious that he could end his career at 140 and i think he can beat every champion up there right now...yes that include crawford..his defense is better from the range they would be fighting..and his power also might be equal..i think he his jus as fast..and he's longer
OctoberRedTue Dec 22, 2015, 1:52 AM UTC
Wow boxingscene really showed their true colors with this one. There's not one piece of footage that shows Thomas saying he couldn't continue and further more Jay Nady already clarified that Thomas didn't.
Y'all always do this to Haymon or black fighters.
"Stalking Thomas from the opening bell, Gassiev controlled the action as he cut off the ring and displayed his full arsenal of heavy-handed power shots"
WHAT Gassiev didn't land anything significant until the punches at the end of the round SMH.
Anything to diminish a Pbc fight or a fighter aligned with Haymon. Just like your article earlier insinuating that Spizka didn't have time to train...
An obvious press release. They didn't write this crap.
sickoTue Dec 22, 2015, 1:04 AM UTC
ZERO controversy in the Berthelemy vs Shafikov fight, Barthelemy was just the bigger and better fighter. As for Thomas vs Gassiev, it ***** the way it ended and I thought Gassiev was going to knock Thomas out eventually but Gassiev threw a Combo well after the bell, that is his fault not the Officials
THEFRESHBRAWLERTue Dec 22, 2015, 12:57 AM UTC
retarded.. rances beat him easy. And how can he be looking for a way out when it was him who got rocked after the bell
This is how Boxingscene treats all haymon fighters. The create some sort of controversy for many of his fights often trying to diminish the value of the fight. They'll do the same with Thurman Porter.
