Final night time in Armenia, in a battle that just about flew beneath the radar, former cruiserweight champ Murat Gassiev (photograph: Worldwide Boxing Affiliation) took Kem Ljungquit’s unbeaten report as he stopped the Danish fighter within the fifth spherical in a battle that passed off up at heavyweight. Russia’s Gassiev, winless since March of 2023, dropped his southpaw opponent with a left hook to the physique, this ending the battle.
Gassiev, nonetheless solely 31 years of age, improves to 31-2(24). 34 12 months previous Lingquist is now 18-1(11).
Gassiev, who was bested solely by Oleksandr Usyk as a cruiserweight, and has misplaced solely to Otto Wallin as a heavyweight, with each defeats coming through determination, may be capable to make one thing of a dent within the heavyweight division. Staying lively has been one in every of Gassiev’s main issues, he has had simply 4 fights since July of 2021. However time remains to be on Gassiev’s aspect, and he confirmed final night time that he carries energy as a heavyweight. That mentioned, how good was Lingquist? The Dane had an excellent novice profession, however he was having his hardest professional check final night time, and he got here up brief.
Gassiev, if he can get some actual momentum occurring the again of this win, and if he can get one other battle in both late this 12 months or, extra seemingly, early subsequent 12 months, may be capable to claw his approach to a title battle of some type. Gassiev was an actual beast at cruiserweight, seemingly all however not possible to harm. Now, some six-and-a-half years on from his loss to present heavyweight king Usyk, Gassiev has been all however forgotten by loads of followers.
Gassiev appeared fairly good final night time, this after a gradual begin. Gassiev nonetheless has heavy fingers, this whereas competing within the sport’s premiere weight class, and he weighed approx 229 kilos final night time, with Lingquist a few kilos heavier. Who Gassiev fights subsequent, and when, will show attention-grabbing to these followers who haven’t forgotten about him.
There was a time when Gassiev mentioned he needed a heavyweight rematch with Usyk, however that battle appears not possible now.
