Former IBF and WBA cruiserweight champion Murat Gassiev, 31-2 (24 KOs) will have his first fight in the United States since 2017. On August 23 in Miami, Florida, Gassiev will take on the Pole Andrzej Wawrzyk, 34-5 (20 KOs) in a non-title ten round heavyweight clash.
Gassiev lost to Oleksandr Usyk in 2018 with the undisputed cruiserweight title on the line in what was the finals of the World Boxing Super Series. Though Gassiev was thought to be a competitive opponent beforehand, aside from a big right hand at the end of the fourth round, he could get little done against Usyk. His career has largely stalled since.
Like Usyk, Gassiev moved up to heavyweight soon after their fight – but while Usyk reached the pinnacle of the glamor division, Gassiev went 5-0 against unheralded opponents before losing to Otto Wallin by split decision.
It took over a year for Gassiev to get back in the ring after that, but when he did, he looked good in knocking out previously unbeaten Kem Ljungquist on October 26 in Yerevan, Armenia.
The 37-year-old Wawrzyk has four losses, three inside the distance, in his last five fights. Prior to September 2022, he was out of the ring for six years.
