WBA regular heavyweight champion Murat “Iron” Gassiev (pictured) will defend his secondary title against 2016 Olympic champion Tony Yoka at IBA Pro 19 on Saturday, July 11th at the VTB Arena in Moscow. For Gassiev (33-2, 26 KOs) , the bout will represent the first defense of the title belt he captured with a sixth-round knockout victory over Kubrat Pulev. The 32 year-old Russian  returns to fight on home soil in front of Moscow fans. In his last fight, Yoka made easy work of Patrick Korte with a first-round knockout in Lagos, Nigeria. It was Yoka's first time fighting since signing with Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions.  From the opening bell, there was a clear gulf in class and Yoka quickly put Korte out of his misery with a right uppercut. Yoka has now won four straight since suffering a shocking 2023 loss to Ryad Merhy. But Korte, a 41 year-old German, is now 23-6-1 and did not even qualify as a gatekeeper. Yoka's pro record is billed as 15-3 with 12 KOs, but Boxingtalk considers the World Series of Boxing to be professional bouts, so that would leave Yoka with a record of 22-11. 

 

Gassiev said, “Tony Yoka is an Olympic Champion. He is a big, strong, experienced boxer with a solid amateur background. He is an Olympic champion, and this definitely won’t be an easy fight. That said, I believe I have a greater desire to retain my title and to beat him. That is the most important thing – what you bring into the ring. Every time I step into the ring, I come with the desire to win and do everything possible to get that victory. I would like to thank both my team and the IBA President, Umar Kremlev, for this opportunity. On July 11th, the people of Moscow will see the best version of Murat Gassiev – and I promise them fireworks.”

 

Yoka, age 34, is coached by Don Charles, who has also trained heavyweight stars Derek Chisora and Daniel Dubois. Yoka remains one of the most recognizable heavyweight names in European boxing thanks to his elite amateur pedigree, technical style and knockout power. Yoka said, “I’m going to win this title for all my people in France and Congo that have not only stuck with me, but still believe in me becoming a professional world champion. I’ve been working hard for over two years now with Don Charles and I’m ready to showcase to the boxing world the changes in my professional boxing. I want to thank Don and my team for backing me 100% through this period, as well as Frank and George Warren at the best promoters in the world, Queensberry, for getting me this opportunity which I will make the most of.”

 

Umar Kremlev, President of the IBA, added, “The IBA is incredibly proud to bring a heavyweight super fight of this magnitude to Moscow. Murat Gassiev and Tony Yoka represent the absolute pinnacle of boxing excellence – one an incredible WBA world champion defending his crown at home, the other an Olympic gold medalist fighting for the professional history of his nation. This event represents everything the IBA stands for: providing the ultimate platform for the world’s premier talent to compete at the highest level.”