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The cruiserweight division has been crazy active lately, what with the tournaments and all, and it’s been a bit surprising to see WBSS Season One runner-up Murat Gassiev seemingly vanish from the conversation. It turns out there’s a good reason, as The Ring’s Mike Coppinger reports that the 25-year-old is close to signing with DAZN, where he’ll campaign at heavyweight.
Hearn had teased the signing of a major player moving to heavyweight in a Saturday interview with iFL TV.
It’s an intriguing decision, assuming that Gassiev (26-1, 19 KO) hasn’t simply outgrown the 200-pound limit. He has a strong claim to being the best active cruiserweight with Oleksandr Usyk moving up in weight, and though “Iron” has had issues with mobile opponents, Usyk’s one-of-a-kind footwork isn’t something many other men that big can replicate. On the other hand, Gassiev certainly has power to spare, and having more hittable targets could be worth the size disparities he’ll face.
Plus, at 6’4”, he shouldn’t be undersized for the division as far as height.
Anyone in the Hearn stables you’d like to see welcome Gassiev to the division?