The fight between Gassiev and Seferi could be safely called one of the main events of the fall in professional boxing.
The former WBA and IBF first heavyweight title holder not only made his return to the professional ring after more than a two-year hiatus, but also made his debut in the most prestigious category.
This was already enough to attract the attention of a huge audience of sports fans.
The excitement around the fight was increased by the fact that the resumption of Gassiev's career turned out to be extremely difficult and therefore long-awaited.
For a long time, a shoulder injury prevented him from returning to performances.
Immediately after the end of the fight with Alexander Usik in July 2018, he underwent surgery, but the consequences of the injury bothered him until the end of next year.
It was because of this that his duel with Joey Daweiko was canceled.
And subsequently, the meeting with Jerry Forrest, scheduled for March 2020, did not take place either.
At some point, the fans might have thought that Gassiev would never be able to return to the ring this year.
At first, the course of affairs was seriously affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and subsequently difficulties with the opponent again arose.
This time, Kevin Johnson and Sefer Seferi refused to confront Murat.
Another battle with the participation of a Russian was under threat, but his elder brother Nuri agreed to replace the Albanian.
Boxers from Albania cannot boast of serious achievements, but they have experience of fighting top boxers.
Sefer's track record includes fights with Tyson Fury and Manuel Charr, and Nuri with Krzysztof Glovacki and Marko Hook.
Both failed to present a sensation, but they looked more than worthy in the ring.
Only the star Briton managed to achieve an early victory, forcing Seferi Jr. to abandon the continuation of the battle at the end of the fourth round.
Thus, although Gassiev's rival could not be called an extra-class athlete, he was not a whipping boy either.
Nevertheless, not only his level and merits, but also a solid advantage in anthropometry spoke in favor of the Russian.
Gassiev was superior to his counterpart both in height (192 versus 180 centimeters) and in weight (104.6 versus 102.1 kilograms).
At the same time, Murat himself admitted that over the past 27 months he "forgot how to box" a little, but intends to return to form during the battles.
At first, the impression was that the fight could well last more than one round.
Gassiev carefully began the fight and practically did not throw out blows, trying to find his distance.
Seferi expectedly acted as the second number and expected attacks from the opponent's side.
The Albanian retreated and was focused on defense, but this did not save him.
In the second minute, Gassiev began to act a little more actively and gradually feel the opponent's defense, and in the 90th second he performed a powerful right straight.
The blow hit Seferi exactly in the jaw and knocked him down.
To the honor of the Albanian, he managed to get up and expressed his readiness to continue the duel, but the referee decided to stop the fight 1 minute 47 seconds after it began.
Gassiev won his 27th career victory and his first since February 2018 when he knocked out Junier Dorticos in the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) semifinals.
At the end of the fight, the Russian spoke about the preparation for the tournament and answered whether he was in the mood to knock out Seferi in the first rounds.
“I was preparing in Vladikavkaz with my coach - Vitaly Konstantinovich Slanov.
We have passed all the basic training at home.
The main task was to win - it doesn't matter, in the first, in the second, in the last round.
By points.
Not important.
The most important thing is to return to the ring.
Feel the fight again.
I hope I will fight as often as possible, and I will try to return to my former level, ”Gassiev said.
The athlete also said that he was very upset by the fact that for two years he could not enter the ring, and turned to the general secretary of the Russian Boxing Federation Umar Kremlev.
“Every athlete will understand me.
Two years without competitions, fights, tournaments is very difficult.
You can train as much as you like in the gym, but these emotions cannot be conveyed.
You cannot replace them with any kind of training.
I am grateful to the Russian Boxing Federation, separately to Umar Kremlev for helping me to enter the ring and box.
Umar has a birthday today.
Congratulations to him.
I wish you all the best and good health, ”concluded Gassiev.