Murat Gassiev will make his first WBA Regular title defense against Olympic champion Tony Yoka on July 11 in Moscow. Gassiev holds a 33-2 record with 26 knockouts, while Yoka is 15-3 with 12 knockouts.
A WBA heavyweight title fight is set for Moscow on July 11, with Russian knockout artist Murat Gassiev putting his WBA Regular belt on the line against French Olympic gold medalist Tony Yoka.
Gassiev steps into his first defense of the WBA Regular heavyweight title carrying a professional record of 33 wins and 2 losses, with 26 of those victories coming by way of knockout. The Russian puncher has built a reputation as one of the division's more dangerous finishers, and his Moscow homecoming sets the stage for a high-stakes debut as champion.
Standing across from him will be Yoka, the French heavyweight who captured Olympic gold before turning professional. Yoka brings a record of 15 wins and 3 losses into the contest, having stopped 12 of his opponents inside the distance. The Paris-born fighter has steadily worked his way toward a world title opportunity, and July 11 represents the biggest night of his professional career to date.
Why it matters
- Gassiev's first defense of the WBA Regular heavyweight title gives the belt its first meaningful test under his name
- Yoka's Olympic pedigree and 12 knockouts make him a credible challenger with finishing power of his own
- A Gassiev victory would further establish him in the crowded heavyweight landscape, while a Yoka win would mark a breakthrough moment for French heavyweight boxing
