WBA heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev has expressed his ‘respect’ for Moses Itauma whereas teasing {that a} future combat might quickly be on the playing cards.
Gassiev is about to pursue his thirty fourth skilled victory when he faces Tony Yoka in Moscow on July 11. A win would protect his standing because the obligatory challenger – behind Agit Kabayel – for a shot at Tremendous champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Itauma, although, was ordered to combat Gassiev by the WBA earlier within the yr, however opted to combat American Jermaine Franklin on the Co-op Dwell Enviornment in Manchester as an alternative, in opposition to whom he scored a powerful fifth-round stoppage.
Nonetheless, Gassiev stays open to a future conflict with the British star, who’s reportedly set to face Filip Hrgovic in London this August.
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Moses Itauma delivers ‘lovely’ knockout to cease Jermaine Franklin within the fifth-round of their bout at Manchester’s Co-op Dwell Enviornment. Photos courtesy of X @DAZN.
“[Itauma] is very young, he has a lot of time. Right now he just needs to enjoy, have fun in the gym, in training camp, in the fights,” Gassiev informed Sky Sports activities.
“He has a very good future. Proper now he went this fashion, I went that method.
“Maybe, at the end of the year or maybe next year, we can make the fight, in the UK – or anywhere. But right now for me, my focus is Tony [Yoka].”
Murat Gassiev
Whereas Gassiev is conscious of Itauma’s youth, he does not underestimate the British heavyweight’s functionality within the ring, which has earned him a vaunted 14-0-0 report with 12 KOs after 14 profession fights.
“He’s 21 – very young – but his style, he doesn’t fight like a kid,” Gassiev mentioned. “He’s smart, he’s strong. He has a strong mentality. And you never know what will happen in the ring.
“Proper now, I watch him, and I can say solely that I respect him, solely good issues about him, as a result of he is younger.
“He’s not a trash talker. He always has respect, doesn’t speak too much [about his opponents], just does his job.
“I see myself within the mirror [when I look at him], as a result of I keep in mind once I 21 years outdated, I used to be the identical – humble, quiet, simply coaching and making an attempt to win my fights, making an attempt to do greatest within the ring.”
Siesta: Itauma is the longer term, however Gassiev is the current
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Murat Gassiev’s promoter Al Siesta is assured his fighter would beat Moses Itauma and states he’ll unify the heavyweight division within the subsequent two years.
Gassiev’s promoter Al Siesta, talking on the Toe2Toe podcast:
“Murat Gassiev can cope with anyone.
“Forgive me for making an announcement right here, however I really imagine – in his present kind and form – he’ll unify the division.
“I do believe he’s a serious contender to unify the division in the next two years. Maybe it will be Moses Itauma, it will be Daniel Dubois [that he’ll fight against] – whoever it will be, they will be on a collision course with Gassiev.
“We truly needed to make a combat in opposition to Itauma, nevertheless it did not work out. Hopefully we’ll get it quickly.
‘I do imagine Itauma is a good prospect, however – I do not wish to be sounding massive headed for Gassiev – he’s the current. You may see very quickly.”
Watch MVPW-06 in Birmingham, headlined by Mikaela Mayer vs Chantelle Cameron and with Caroline Dubois also in action, live on August 29 on Sky Sports. Get Sky Sports activities or stream boxing with no contract.
