Murat Gassiev hopes to return to the fight for the world title
The boxer hopes that his newly acquired Armenian citizenship will allow him to return to the world stage and join the fight for the title.
Photo source: Rich Schultz/Getty Images
Murat Gassiev, 29-year-old former world heavyweight champion, after defeating American Mike Balogan in Yerevan to win the WBA Intercontinental Heavyweight belt, hopes his newly acquired Armenian citizenship will allow him to return to the world stage and join the fight for the championship title.
“Thanks to Armenia for the support, for the opportunity to return to big fights,” Gassiev told reporters after the victory. “I hope this opens up the boundaries for me and, more importantly, gives me the chance to fight for a world title again.”
“I'll rest for about a week and start training and then it's up to my team to find fights for me,” the boxer added of the timing of his next fight.
Gassiev knocked out Balogan with one blow in the second round, and after the fight explained his cautious tactics in the first round and the beginning of the second.