The official press conference took place in Moscow ahead of Saturday’s IBA show at the VTB Arena, where WBA heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev, representing Russia, will defend his title against late-replacement Peter Kadiru of Germany. The show will bring together traditional boxing and bare knuckle fights on a single fight card, with Gassiev vs Kadiru headlining the evening. Gassiev said, "Big boxing and big fights are returning to Russia, and serious athletes are coming here. I hope this is the right direction for the development of professional boxing not only in Russia, but also around the world. I would also like to thank everyone involved and thank my opponent for accepting this fight. God willing, everything will be good and after the fight we will both go home alive, healthy, and without injuries. I wish him good luck. May the strongest man win."
Kadiru, who stepped in after Tony Yoka withdrew from the title bout due to a back injury, said the opportunity represented the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition. "I am happy to be here and very happy to get this opportunity,’ Kadiru said. ‘This has been my dream since I was a little kid — to fight for the heavyweight championship of the world. Now I can make this dream come true. I just want to say thank you."
Speaking at the press conference, IBA president Umar Kremlev wished the global boxing community an unforgettable evening of top-tier sport. "To all boxing fans, athletes, and coaches, I hope you thoroughly enjoy watching these spectacular bouts on 11 July,’ Kremlev said. ‘Fights must always be competitive. The athletes are going to showcase their true potential and show exactly what they are striving for. I am certain every coach dreams of seeing their fighter become the best of the best, and that is exactly the path these athletes are on. I am confident it will be a truly electric evening. Crucially, it is a great pleasure to see these major events taking place right here in Moscow,’ he added. ‘We possess world-class conditions for staging such massive events, where top boxers from all over the globe can come together to compete. We are already planning even more events of this scale. I wish everyone a fantastic time watching what promises to be the standout event of the year."
IBA CEO Chris Roberts welcomed the participants and thanked Kremlev for his role in bringing major international boxing nights to the Russian capital. "It is certainly a privilege to be here," Roberts said. ‘It is absolutely fantastic to have this event in Moscow. We are surrounded by fantastic people and superb athletes. "This is something that Umar has continued to do and drives hard. We really appreciate the work that everybody is putting in, and we are looking forward to a fantastic evening."
