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Murat Gassiev, the youngest member of the World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight lineup, handily destroyed oldest member Krzysztof Wlodarczyk in Newark, needing just three rounds to dispatch the former champion with a sickening body shot.
Gassiev (25-0, 18 KO) fought his prototypical fight, walking Wlodarczyk (53-4-1, 37 KO) down and looking to put together combinations on the ropes. Wlodarczyk showed a sharp jab, but didn’t seem able to faze Gassiev or slow his advance in any way.
Midway through the third, Gassiev slipped a left uppercut through Wlodarczyk’s guard and followed up with a left hook downstairs. Wlodarczyk melted to the floor in obvious agony and didn’t even come close to beating the ten-count.
While Gassiev was expected to win, stopping his man in such dominant fashion is quite a statement. Woldarczyk had never been finished despite fighting the likes of Rakhim Chakhkiev and Grigory Drozd, but had absolutely zero answers for Gassiev’s might.
Gassiev moves on to fight Yunier Dorticos in the semis, a matchup with Fight of the Year potential. Already counting the days.