Bolshov Ice Dome in Adler, Russia - In the second semi-final fight of World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) cruiserweight tournament, a battle undefeated world champions saw Murat Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs) score a dramatic twelfth round knockout of Yunier Dorticos (21-1, 20 KOs) to unify the WBA, IBF world titles.
Gassiev will now advance this May to the WBSS championship final in Saudi Arabia, to fight WBO/WBC world champion Oleksandr Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs), winner of last Saturday's WBSS semi-final match against Mairis Briedis (23-1, 18 KOs).
The WBSS' Muhammad Ali Trophy winner will become the first world cruiserweight champion to hold all four major championship belts at the same time.
The final rounds decided a very action-packed contest.
They started off the eleventh by trading big shots at close range. Gassiev was landing the heavier blows. Dorticos would not stop coming. But then a combination had Dorticos in serious trouble in the final twenty seconds as they were trading shots. Dorticos held and was able to survive.
The twelfth started off with close range punches being traded. They were letting everything go with huge punches flying. A big left hook sent Dorticos down on his back. He made it up, but then a big combination sent Dorticos down for a second time. They were trading shots when a big combination sent Dorticos through the ropes and out - which quickly stopped the fight.
2023-10-20 10:25:39
