MURAT GASSIEV wants to rematch Oleksandr Usyk – but with a heavyweight title around his waist.
Gassiev was beaten in the World Boxing Super Series final in 2018 by Usyk – who was crowned undisputed cruiserweight champion.
Both have since moved up to heavyweight, where Usyk has twice reigned as undisputed king with wins over Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.
Gassiev has won six of his seven heavyweight bouts and challenges for Kubrat Pulev’s secondary WBA “Regular” title on Friday in Dubai.
But the Russian has not lost hope of a rematch with Usyk – who vacated his WBO title with Britain’s Fabio Wardley elevated to champion.
Gassiev said ahead of his IBA Pro fight: “Right now in heavyweight division, things change very fast.
“He leaves belt, takes belts and I don’t know what’s happening. If I have the chance, of course I have a fight with him.”
Gassiev smirks as he jokes about graduating from the school of hard knocks alongside Usyk.
He said: “For sure, Usyk has street fights too, because he’s from Ukraine and I’m from Russia. It’s the same mentality, same situation in the streets.”
Gassiev was the unified IBF and WBA cruiserweight champ before moving up to heavyweight.
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Pulev – knocked out by Anthony Joshua in 2020 – won the second-rate WBA strap against Mahmoud Charr in December.
And Gassiev, 32, said: “He is one of the toughest fights in my professional career and I’m ready for this.
“It’s my first title fight at heavyweight but I feel happy not losing weight, I feel comfortable in my training camp. I’m ready to go.”
Britain’s 20-year-old prodigy Moses Itauma is the WBA’s No1 ranked contender and likely to fight Friday’s victory.
And Gassiev said: “Of course, it’s a good fight. But like I’ve said, I can’t look into the future. After the fight we can speak.”
