Еx-world champion Gassiev to fight American Balogun next week

Former unified cruiserweight world champion Murat Gassiev, who has not been very active in the last three years, is scheduled to return to the ring against American heavyweight contender Mike Balogun on March 3 at the Demirchyan Arena in Yerevan.

The 29-year-old Gassiev (29-1, 22 KOs) is currently the Eurasian Boxing Parliament (EPB) heavyweight champion. He moved up to the heavyweight division in 2020, after more than a two-year layoff due to injuries and promotional disputes.

Gassiev lost his unified cruiserweight crown, by way of decision, in a high stakes clash with Oleksandr Usyk in the final bout of the 2018 World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight tournament.

Balogun (20-0, 16 KOs) is a rugged heavyweight with heavy hands.

In December of 2021, he pulled off an unexpected upset when he knocked out unbeaten Trey Lippe Morrison – son of Tommy Morrison – in one round.

Last year, he picked up two more knockout victories inside of two rounds.