By Yuri Tarantin
As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, a date and location has been finalized for IBF/WBA cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev's mandatory defense against dangerous unbeaten challenger Murat Gassiev.
Gassiev is advised by Al Haymon and fighters under the Premier Boxing Champions banner. Lebedev's promoter Andrey Ryabinsky, of World of Boxing, revealed the date of December 3 with Moscow as the location.
Lebedev vs. Gassiev creates a classic duel between trainers. Lebedev is handled by Hall of Fame coach Freddie Roach, and Gassiev is trained by Abel Sanchez, who is currently best known as the head coach for middleweight king Gennady Golovkin.
Earlier this year, Lebedev pulled off one of his most impressive victories with a two round destruction of Victor Emilio Ramirez to unify the WBA/IBF world titles before a frenzied crowd in Moscow, Russia.
The victory raised the 36-year-old's record to 29 wins (22 by knockout) and two defeats. Gassiev is one of Russia's most promising up and coming boxers. In his last fight, he had very scary knockout of Jordan Shimmell. The 22-year-old Gassiev, who is promoted by Warriors Boxing in the United States, has a record of 23 wins (17 by KO) and no losses.
Gassiev is already training hard with Sanchez in the United States.
"In the upcoming fight in Russia I have mixed feelings," Gassiev said. "That excitement that comes before the most important fight of my career, it's a sense of joy and for giving me the opportunity to box for the title, and this sense of responsibility to my team and my fans. The fact that the fight will take place in Russia makes me happy for several reasons. I think that this fight at home will attract much more attention than in the US or in Europe. And secondly, because a lot more of my friends and fans will get to the fight."
"Regarding the city to carry out such a fight, it's probably logical to organize it in the capital. While on the other side, there are other cities in our country have the experience of high-level battles. Therefore, I would be happy to box in the capital as well as in any other city in our country. Regarding motivation, I can say that I am extremely motivated."
"I do not need an artificial cheat or look for some external stimuli. I know why I came into boxing, I know what goals I have set myself in boxing and I have, so to speak, seen the goal coming. The faith in myself, my family, my friends and the fans just gives me extra strength. Believe me, when complete strangers all over the world - in Vladikavkaz, in Chelyabinsk, in Moscow, in Los Angeles - want you to succeed, then it can not help but motivate you."
Yuri Tarantin covers boxing for Alboxing.ru
