Oleksandr Usyk Defeats Murat Gassiev To Become Undisputed Cruiserweight Champion
The battle was of great importance. Usyk entered the ring holding the WBC and WBO cruiserweight titles after defeating Marco Huck and Mairis Briedis in the WBSS tournament, while Gassiev brought home the WBA (Super) and IBF titles following knockout victories over Krzysztof Wlodarczyk and Yuniel Dorticos. The winner also claimed the vacant Ring Magazine Championship. Being recognized as the champion of the line came with the victory. The Muhammad Ali Trophy awaited the WBSS champion.
Many expected Gassiev’s striking power to provide the toughest test of Usyk’s career. Instead, the Ukrainian produced the cleanest performance ever seen in a battle for the cruiserweight belt.
Usyk relies on continuous lateral movement. His southpaw kept Gassiev busy. Quick combinations landed before the Russian could plant his feet. Every time Gassiev looked ready to land one of his heavy hooks, Usyk would already slip at an angle before returning with accurate punches.
Gassiev landed the occasional right hand, including his best jab in the fourth round, but those moments were rare. Usyk’s footwork repeatedly forced him to regroup before he could build a sustained offense.
CompuBox’s numbers showed the difference. Usyk landed 252 of 939 punches, including 99 jabs, while Gassiev connected on just 91 of 313. Rather than settle for a comfortable lead, Usyk upped the ante in the closing rounds, landing 117 punches in the twelfth while landing 47 to finish the fight in emphatic fashion.
When the final bell rang, the decision was not in doubt. The unanimous decision ended Usyk’s sweep of all major cruiserweight world titles. It also won him the Ring Magazine title. Honors as a line champion followed. The Muhammad Ali Trophy completed the collection.
The World Boxing Super Series also brought in record paydays for the team. Reports put Usyk’s purse at around $10 million, while Gassiev earned around $5 million, making it the last of the richest cruiserweight fights ever. Lonnie Ali presented the Muhammad Ali Trophy during the post-fight ceremony as Usyk celebrated in front of the Moscow crowd.
The victory elevated Usyk to boxing’s elite. His reign in the cruiserweight division has left nothing to be desired. He soon moved up to heavyweight, where he became the undisputed champion. Gassiev also entered the heavy phase, although injuries curtailed his career. He never returned to the championship level and reached cruiserweight.
More than seven years later, this fight still serves as the blueprint for professional boxing. Usyk quickly established his range. Gassiev spent the whole night trying to close it. Few championship bouts at cruiserweight match the precision he displayed that night in Moscow.
