Boxing

The heavyweight clash will take place on Friday in Dubai

Published

11 months ago

December 10, 2025

Image: Kubrat Pulev Defends WBA Heavyweight Title Against Murat Gassiev on December 12 in Dubai

Kubrat Pulev will defend his “regular” WBA heavyweight title against 12th-ranked Murat Gassiev next Friday, December 12, at the Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Dubai.

The WBA belt is at stake

The 44-year-old Pulev (32-3, 14 KO) is defending his second WBA title for the first time after winning the belt a year ago in a fight against Mahmoud Charr on December 7, 2024.

It took Pulev longer than expected to return to the ring, but he finally faced former two-time cruiserweight champion Gassiev (32-2, 25 KO).

For many, the fight will be risky because Pulev has the experience and technical advantage. However, Gassiev, 32, is younger and has better punching power. Hand speed is also one of his strengths. He’s far from brisk, but his speed is better than the glacially slower Pulev.

Fight details and start time

Pulev vs. match Gassiev will stream live on DAZN from 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT. Approximate ring walk time is 2:00 PM ET / 11:00 PM PT.

Friday’s card on DAZN

Kubrat Pulev vs. Murat Gasijew
Bakhodur Usmonov vs. Maxi Hughes
Vadim Musaev vs. Thulani Mbenge
Khariton Agrba vs. Ruben Nestor Neri Munoz
Faizan Anwar vs. Khuseyn Baysangurov
Dave Penalosa vs. David Alaev

Pulev, a 16-year-old pro, has slowed down in recent years. When he was in top form in 2014, he had decent hand speed, a powerful jab and a nice left hook. At age 44, the 6-foot-1/2-inch Pulev still has a powerful jab and left hook. They’re just easier to spot.

What kept Bulgarian Kubrat in good shape in the last three rounds was a combination of his promoters’ careful selection of fighters and his technical skills. He still has the same skills he had at the beginning of his career, but he only lost his hand speed. The size is there and it stays in good condition.

Pulev has won his last three fights since losing a questionable 12-round split decision to Derek Chisora in July 2022 in London. Since that defeat, Pulev has victories over these three:

Mahmud Carr
Ihor Shewadzutski
Andrzej Wawrzyk

Gassiev will enter Friday’s fights having won his last two fights following a 12-round split decision loss to Otto Wallin in 2023. In his last two fights, Gassiev defeated Kem Ljungquist and Jeremiah Milton.

Bob Smith wrote for Boxing News 24 since 2008, making him one of the site’s longest-serving contributors. With over a decade of experience, he has established himself as a senior boxing writer who accurately covers the global fight scene.

Bob’s work includes fight reports, news and features featuring world champions and emerging fighters alike, giving fans a clear picture of the sport’s past and present. Known for his consistency, accuracy and deep understanding of boxing, Bob remains a trusted voice for readers who want to stay up to date with global martial arts news.

Last update: 12/10/2025

Boxing

Robert Garcia Analyzes Tim Tszyus Odds Against Erislandy Lara | Boxing News

Published

2 hours ago

November 7, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Robert Garcia Analyzes Tim Tszyu's Odds Against Erislandy Lara | Boxing News"

Tim Tszyu seeks to become Australia’s third multi-divisional boxing world champion when he competes for Erislandy Lara’s WBA middleweight title next month, and ahead of the action, trainer Robert Garcia has offered his thoughts on the fight.

Tszyu lost his WBO super-welterweight title in a defeat to Sebastian Fundora back in 2024 and twice failed to reclaim 154lb honours, both against Bakhram Murtazaliev and in a rematch with Fundora.

Since then, the Aussie has stepped up to middleweight and scored a career-best win over Errol Spence Jr earlier this yearand now, the 32-year-old could join lead trainer Jeff Fenech and Liam Paro as his nation’s third two-weight world champion, if he can trump 43-year-old.

Speaking with ProBox TVRobert Garcia, who trains a potential future Tszyu opponent in Vergil Ortiz, admitted that he is leaning towards the home fighter, but noted that Lara will not be phased by competing in the challenger’s backyard.

“We can probably lean towards Tim Tsyzu because he is fighting at home, in front of his hometown, but Lara is not the fighter that brings in a lot of fans following him.

“He doesn’t have a following, he is not one that is going to sell out arenas, so even if it is in the United States, it is likely that most of the people are going to be [there] for Tim Tszyu because Australians do travel and Tim Tszyu has a lot of fans.

“For Lara, going to Australia is like going to Las Vegas or going to New York because he never has that following anyways. Anywhere he goes, he is going to be against the crowd. So, I think for him it is going to be one of those performances where it doesn’t make a difference if he is going to Tim Tsyzu’s hometown.”

Tszyu-Lara takes place at the Cbus Super Stadium in Queensland, Australia on Sunday 13 December.

Boxing

Malik Scott Predicts Knockout Victory for Jai Opetaia in Upcoming Fight

Published

2 hours ago

November 7, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Malik Scott Predicts Knockout Victory for Jai Opetaia in Upcoming Fight"

Deontay Wilder’s former head coach Malik Scott has delivered a knockout prediction for the American’s upcoming showdown with Jai Opetaia.

The pair will square off at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 11, with Opetaia making his heavyweight debut on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua.

Despite him being the naturally smaller man, many are favouring the Australian – a former two-time world cruiserweight champion – to defeat his 10-years-older opponent.

It is, after all, generally accepted that Wilder has declined significantly since his trilogy bout with Furywho survived two knockdowns and scored an 11th-round knockout in their 2021 encounter.

Back then, Wilder had just joined forces with Scott, his former opponent, and the pair maintained their fighter-trainer relationship through subsequent defeats against Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang.

With Wilder now operating under different coaches, though, Scott has shared a balanced view of the Opetaia fight with Seconds Out.

“The fight’s got dynamite written all over it. Jai Opetaia is very dangerous, but he’s a smaller man that’s been hurt by smaller men than Deontay, slower men than Deontay.

“I’ve never seen Opetaia get hit by nobody like Deontay; I’ve seen Deontay get hit by bigger punchers than Opetaia. [But] one thing we can expect in this fight is a knockout.

“The name of the fight is ‘bad intentions’ – at least that’s what I’m calling it, because that’s what they share in common. What they share in common is mentality – they both are trying to hurt you.”

While he stopped short of predicting a winner, it is perhaps telling that Scott, despite his relationship with Wilder, has not explicitly favoured him to win by knockout.