Undefeated Russian cruiserweight Murat Gassiev had a solid night at the office on Tuesday: He produced a potential knockout of the year and also earned himself an overdue world title shot.
Gassiev scored a devastating first-round knockout of Jordan Shimmell in the main event of a Premier Boxing Champions card at the Black Bear Casino Resort in Carlton, Minnesota, improving his impressive record to 23-0 (17KOs). Frighteningly, Gassiev is still just 22 years old.
He is now a mandatory challenger for the winner of the world title unification fight between Argentina's Victor Emilio Ramirez and Russia's Denis Lebedev this weekend, and frankly, I wouldn't like to be either of those two guys judging by Gassiev's nuclear display of power last night.
Dip, right, good night.
Murat Gassiev (23-0, 17ko) candidato a KO del año https://t.co/rwxQoYCmRv
— Noticias BOX 🇺🇦 (@notibox1) May 18, 2016
His reaction after he lands the shot is extremely frightening.
Gassiev shares a trainer - Abel Sanchez - with Gennady Golovkin, and trains alongside Triple G, boxing's newest Beast from the East.
Speaking to PBC after the fight, he said:
I was trying to set up the final punch. I imitated the overhand right so that I could come back with the left hook. It was a combination that we practiced. It wasn't the most powerful punch, but I snapped it pretty well. I was ready to keep going, but that punch was enough.
I've trained hard and been improving my skills. I'm going to work and get ready for my title shot. I am extremely happy he got up, and I hope he is OK. I never want to hurt anybody. I just want to win the fight.
His opponent lay motionless on the canvas for a couple of minutes before coming round, but was quick to congratulate Gassiev.
