Murat Gassiev don hit back at reports say Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury fit fight for WBA ‘super’ heavyweight title. The reigning WBA heavyweight champion talk say nobody consult am or him team before the reports start to fly.
Reports tok say the vacant ‘super’ title fit dey at stake when Joshua and Fury supposed meet for Cardiff on December 11. But Gassiev no gree with that move at all.
‘Nobody asked me or my team anything before this decision,’ Gassiev write on Instagram. ‘I have defended this title in the ring, not in a press release.’
He still talk say: ‘I am ready to fight anyone – Fury, Joshua, anybody – tomorrow, next month, whenever suits. That has never been a question for me. I would not accept the situation when champion’s future is decided on paper, not in the ring.’
Gassiev representatives also lodge formal objection with WBA. Dem demand clarification over wetin the sanctioning body dey plan.
John Wirt, wey be Gassiev co-promoter and legal counsel, talk say: ‘If anyone should be fighting for the WBA super heavyweight title, it is Murat Gassiev, the reigning champion, not two boxers who currently hold no world title between them.’
Wirt continue: ‘Allowing the WBA’s number two [Fury] and number three [Joshua] contenders to bypass the number one contender [Jarrell Miller] and the reigning champion [Gassiev] himself would be an extraordinary and, to our knowledge, unprecedented decision.’
He add say: ‘We have formally requested that the WBA confirm or deny these reports and provide the grounds for any such decision. At an absolute minimum, Murat must be given the opportunity to be heard and to fight for super champion status before that status is awarded to anyone else. Our client’s rights in this matter are fully reserved.’
The dispute come from reports say WBA wan bring back its ‘super’ championship for Joshua-Fury, even though Gassiev currently dey recognised as its heavyweight champion.
Gassiev first win the organisation secondary title, wey many people call the ‘regular’ title, when he stop Kubrat Pulev for Dubai last December. When Oleksandr Usyk relinquish him world titles in June, Gassiev remain as WBA sole heavyweight titlist and later defend him belt against Peter Kadiru in July.
Gassiev team talk say dem never receive any explanation from WBA about the matter.
