Photo by Rick Schultz/Getty Images
On December 3, 2016, Murat Gassiev (24-0, 17 KOs) scored a 12-round split decision victory against Denis Lebedev (29-3, 22 KOs) to win the IBF Cruiserweight title at the Khodynka Ice Palace in Moscow, Russia.
Lebedev is a 37-year-old veteran of Russia who has held various versions of the WBO strap since beating James Toney in 2011. Murat, on the other hand, is a 23-year-old contender of Russia who quickly rose in the Cruiserweight rankings after making his debut in 2011 and by knocking out 71 percent of his opposition.
In the first round, both men used feints and shots thrown at a distance to measure each other. By Rounds 2 and 3, Lebedev began finding his rhythm, stepping to the right of his southpaw stance and somewhat outboxing Gassiev during much of those rounds.
However, Gassiev’s pressure began taking its toll in Round 4, and in Round 5, Gassiev landed a hard left hook to the body that dropped Lebedev. The knockdown began a veritable beatdown that continued into the end of the round.
However, by Round 6, Lebedev began finding his rhythm again and starting having more moments in the right, landing straight left hands and right hooks. Gassiev seemed to be on the verge of stopping Lebedev in the previous round, but could not finish him.
During the later rounds, both men had their moments, but it was not enough for Lebedev to retain his title on most of the scorecards.
Two judges had it 116-112 for Gassiev, while one judge had it 115-113 for Lebedev.
Khodynka Ice Palace in Moscow, Russia
Upset in Russia
In the co-main event of Lebedev-Gassiev, Julius Indongo (21-0, 11 KOs) upset previously unbeaten Eduard Troyanovsky (25-1, 22 KOs) with a knockout in just 40 seconds of the first round to capture the IBF and IBO Super Lightweight titles.
Troyanovsky is a 36-year-old native of Russia who enjoyed a hometown advantage against Indongo, a 33-year-old nobody of Namibia.
After Troyanovsky pushed forward confidently with combination punches, Indongo, a southpaw, landed an overhand left that knocked Troyanovsky out cold.
Tonight, Indongo made a name for himself in just a few seconds.
