Hit in the jaw and an early stop: how Gassiev defeated Wallisha by TKO and won the WBA Asia belt

A new test of the ex-world champion

The last few years of his boxing career have turned out to be very difficult for Murat Gassiev.

Having become almost the absolute world champion in the first heavyweight division, he disappeared from the radar for a long time.

In 2018, the Russian combined two belts in his hands, but in the decisive fight of the World Boxing Super Series he lost to Alexander Usik in Moscow.

After the first misfire, the athlete did not enter the ring for more than two years.

During this time, he managed, following the example of the Ukrainian, to go to the heavyweight and change the promoter.

In October last year, in his debut fight in the new category, Gassiev did not leave the slightest chance for the aged Albanian Nuri Seferi, knocking him out in 107 seconds.

Murat was not going to make another long pause.

It was planned that the next confrontation awaits him in the spring.

As a result, it was possible to organize a meeting with the German Ercan Teper only on July 22.

At the same time, the WBA Asia title was at stake.

However, two weeks before the event, the rival was forced to abandon the fight - one of his family members was diagnosed with the coronavirus.

Another not-too-famous boxer, Michael Wallisch, agreed to replace his compatriot on a short notice.

It is enough that in the list of German heavyweights according to Boxrec, he is only in eighth place, although in 26 fights he won 22 victories with four defeats.

Nevertheless, the guest initially had practically no chance of success, although Gassiev said several compliments to him.

In particular, Murat stressed that it was this meeting that would actually become his debut in a new category, since the opposition in the person of Seferi turned out to be very weak.

“I never thought about how the fight would end.

If there is an opportunity to complete it ahead of schedule, then, of course, I will use it.

If the whole distance lasts, I will show you a beautiful box, ”the Russian promised at a press conference.

In turn, the 35-year-old German stressed that before the confrontation in the volleyball arena, Dynamo is in its best shape and also paid tribute to the opponent.

“I respect Murat as a fighter.

Good man.

I like his behavior both in the ring and outside it, ”Wallisch emphasized.

Gassiev's coaches rather looked ahead and thought about the next opponent for the ward.

So, Vitaly Slanov announced his desire to "go to champion fights" within the next two years.

Michael seemed on the way to them only an insignificant obstacle.

Ghukasyan's curious defeat

During the evening, two other Russians entered the ring - Mikhail Aloyan and Edgar Ghukasyan.

The bronze medalist of the Olympic Games got the talented young African Johan Mchanju as his rivals.

And the boxer from Tanzania managed to create problems for the favorite.

He moved quickly and delivered a sharp series of punches.

In the fourth round, the two-time world champion even received a cut on his right eyebrow.

And in the eighth, the opponent shook him with another dangerous shot. 

But in general, the much more experienced Aloyan looked preferable and controlled the course of the meeting.

And therefore, the decision of the judges unanimously to give him his seventh career victory did not come as a surprise.

But Ghukasyan failed to support his compatriot's initiative.

Edgar faced Argentinean Ricardo Villalba for the WBA Asia junior middleweight title, but was disqualified.

The Russian actively started the fight, but after two rounds he slowed down a lot and began to miss one blow after another.

In the fourth, the athlete openly butted his opponent in the face with his head.

Villalba immediately collapsed onto the deck, showing that he was unable to continue.

One way or another, he really got a cut, and the judges were forced to stop the confrontation.

So, the Argentine became the owner of the belt, and Ghukasyan's side immediately offered to organize a revenge.

And in the opinion of the boxer himself, the fight should have continued.

Gassiev's victory in 12 minutes

Following this, the main characters of the evening, Wallisch and Gassiev, finally entered the ring.

It quickly became clear that a taller and lighter visually (in fact, the Russian turned out to be four kilograms heavier), the German, following Usik's example, would try to move a lot, forcing the favorite to make mistakes.

The rivals spent the first round on reconnaissance.

Nevertheless, Iron was marked by two tight side blows, which Michael could not help but feel.

In the second, the Russian gave the initiative to his opponent altogether and practically did not bother him.

He quite successfully moved and fired at the ex-world champion from a distance.

However, the 27-year-old domestic athlete was in no hurry, but simply waited for the guest to start getting tired.

And it happened quickly enough.

Already in the third segment, Gassiev's pressure increased.

Sometimes he moved towards the enemy, not even using his fists, but still made him nervous.

Murat calmly prepared his trademark knockout shot.

And the chance to demonstrate it presented itself immediately after a short break.

The Russian powerfully hit Wallisch's body and finally caused him serious discomfort.

From that moment on, the German began to openly survive.

The Ossetian healed blow after blow.

In the end, after another hit, the mouthguard flew out of the guest's mouth.

It seemed that he would not be able to continue the fight.

However, the opponent still managed to get to his feet.

Murat immediately rushed to finish, and the referee unexpectedly stopped the confrontation right with the gong, fixing a technical knockout.

In the corner, a native of Germany tried to challenge the referee's decision, but after receiving an explanation from him, they gave up.

Thus, the domestic boxer won the second victory in the new weight category and won the WBA Asia championship belt.

After the fight, he thanked everyone who had not turned away from him in recent years.

“Now, thank God, everything is fine. We worked and gave the opportunity to prove ourselves. We will continue to box. Thanks to Michael for taking up the challenge on such a short notice. I feel like I need to box and box. Among the heavyweights, I am still at the very bottom. But I will do my best to achieve championship fights and I will count on my team, ”said Iron.