Murat Gassiev Defends WBA Heavyweight Title, Stops Kadiru in Moscow

Murat GassievPlayer·Murat Gassiev delivered a commanding performance on July 11, 2026, successfully defending his WBACompetition·WBA Heavyweight World Title for the first time by stopping Peter KadiruPlayer·Peter Kadiru in the sixth round. The bout, held at the VTB ArenaVenue·VTB Arena in MoscowVenue·Moscow, saw Gassiev assert his dominance from the outset, culminating in a technical knockout victory.

Gassiev, who was elevated to full WBACompetition·WBA Heavyweight Champion after Oleksandr UsykPlayer·Oleksandr Usyk vacated his titles last month, entered the ring for his inaugural defense. The Russian fighter's original opponent, Olympic gold medalist Tony YokaPlayer·Tony Yoka, withdrew from the contest due to a back injury, leading to Peter KadiruPlayer·Peter Kadiru stepping in on short notice. Despite the change, Gassiev maintained his focus, stating prior to the fight, "Ready for any opponent."

From the opening bell, the 32-year-old Gassiev dictated the pace, employing a high guard and leveraging his superior power and speed. Kadiru, 29, struggled to mount an effective offense against the well-prepared champion, who systematically wore down his opponent over five rounds. By the sixth round, Kadiru appeared increasingly fatigued, and Gassiev capitalized, cornering the German fighter and unleashing a barrage of punches. This sustained assault prompted a member of Kadiru's corner to throw in the towel, signaling the end of the contest exactly one minute into the round.

The victory extends Murat GassievPlayer·Murat Gassiev's professional record to 34 wins and 2 losses, with 27 of those victories coming by knockout. He is now on a three-fight knockout streak, having rebounded from a split-decision loss to Otto WallinPlayer·Otto Wallin in September 2023. Peter KadiruPlayer·Peter Kadiru's record now stands at 23 wins and 2 losses, with 13 knockouts. Kadiru had previously enjoyed a nine-fight winning streak following his only other career defeat, a first-round knockout against Marcos Antonio AumadaPlayer·Marcos Antonio Aumada in 2022.

The event, IBA Pro 19Competition·IBA Pro 19, also saw former WBO champion Shannon BriggsPlayer·Shannon Briggs offering vocal encouragement from ringside, while Derek ChisoraPlayer·Derek Chisora was observed interacting with Gassiev. Following the decisive win, Al SeistaCoach·Al Seista of IBA Pro issued a clear challenge to other prominent heavyweights, stating, "Daniel DuboisPlayer·Daniel Dubois, Moses ItaumaPlayer·Moses Itauma, Agit KabayelPlayer·Agit Kabayel, (Gassiev) is the guy, we're coming for you very soon!"

Gassiev's emphatic title defense firmly establishes him as a significant force in the heavyweight division. With the landscape of boxing's most prestigious weight class currently in flux, his performance ensures he will be a central figure in future discussions regarding unification bouts and top contenders.