Murat Gassiev’s team wants answers from the WBA.
It was reported this week that the WBA “Super” title is set to be on the line for Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua. The two meet on Friday, December 11, at Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The winner would become a three-time world heavyweight champion.
That is a problem for Gassiev, who already holds the WBA heavyweight title.
The Russian won the WBA “Regular” belt by knocking out Kubrat Pulev in the sixth round last December. When Oleksandr Usyk vacated his WBA, WBC and IBF titles in June, Gassiev was elevated to full champion.
He made his first defense in July, stopping late replacement Peter Kadiru in the sixth round at VTB Arena in Moscow.
Gassiev’s co-promoter Ivaylo Gotzev is now pushing to have the decision reversed, per Boxing King Media. At the very least, he expects the WBA to justify it.
If a new super champion is now to be designated above the existing world champion, then there must be absolute clarity about how that decision is consistent with the WBA’s rules, rankings and championship structure.
Gotzev made his position clear.
There is already a WBA Heavyweight World Champion. His name is Murat Gassiev.
WBA president Gilberto Mendoza and the organization have not commented on Fury vs. Joshua being sanctioned as a “Super” title fight.
