Kubrat Pulev vs Murat Gassiev Preview December 12th , 2025
Former IBF and WBA Cruiserweight Champion Murat Gassiev of Russia returns to the ring this Friday, December 12th to take on ‘Regular’ WBA Heavyweight Champion Kubrat Pulev of Bulgaria. The 12-rounder from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, can be seen live on the IBA You Tube Channel. Pulev last fought a year ago when he beat fellow veteran Mahmoud (Manuel) Charr via a unanimous decision to take the WBA ‘Regular’ Belt while Gassiev stopped Jeremiah Hilton after six rounds in August.
Pulev vs Gassiev Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Kubrat Pulev +250
- Murat Gassiev -300
My Pick
Pulev is now 44 years old and before being stopped by Anthony Joshua in the ninth round in December, 2020, he had won eight straight fights since being stopped by Wladimir Klitschko in the fifth round in November, 2014. In fact, those two attempts at winning a heavyweight title were the only two defeats Pulev had suffered in his pro career until losing to Dereck Chisora via a 12-round split decision in 2022 for the European Title. This means he enters the ring this weekend with a mark of 32-3 with 14 Ko’s.
Pulev’s a former 2008 Olympian who enjoyed a fine amateur career. He made his pro debut in 2009 and has fought 268 rounds since. He isn’t really known as a knockout artist by any means as just 43.7 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage and he hasn’t scored a knockout since March, 2019 when he halted Bogdan Dinu in the seventh round. His power shouldn’t be underestimated though as he fought former UFC Champion Frank Mir a few years ago in a mixed-martial arts contest and stopped him in the first round.
The big Bulgarian stands just over 6-feet-4-inches tall with a 79.5-inch reach. He stopped Alexander Dimitrenko in 11 rounds in May, 2012 for the European Heavyweight Title and then stopped Alexander Ustinov in the same round four months later. He beat the aging Tony Thompson by unanimous decision in 2013 and stopped Joey Abell the same year. He also has wins over Charr, Hughie Fury, Samuel Peter, Michael Sprott, Kevin Johnson, Dominick Guinn, Derric Rossy, Matt Skelton, Jerry Forrest, Travis Walker and Zack Page.
Pulev has good boxing skills and understands the importance of distance and timing but doesn’t really have the one-punch power to stop skilled opponents and often has to go the distance. Since turning pro he’s won the European Heavyweight Title twice as well as the IBF International Heavyweight Crown and the WBA Inter-Continental Heavyweight Title. He may be underrated by many due to his age but still seems to possess enough skills and power to compete.
Gassiev won his IBF Cruiserweight Title back in December, 2016 by beating Denis Lebedev via a split decision and then added the WBA version by stopping Yuniel Dorticos in the 12th round in February, 2018 in the World Boxing Super Series. However, he lost those titles in the tournament final when he dropped a unanimous decision to current Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk in July, 2018. Gassiev then moved up to heavyweight and has fought seven times since losing to Usyk, which was his first loss as a pro.
His second defeat came at the hands of Otto Wallin in 2023 when he dropped a 12-round split decision. It feels like Gassiev has been around forever but he’s just 32 years old which means he’s a dozen years younger than Pulev. He makes the ring walk with a fine record of 32-2 with 25 Ko’s. He made his pro debut in 2011 after his amateur career and has 163 rounds of experience under his belt. Gassiev possesses solid power in his fists 78 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage including his last eight.
Gassiev measures just over 6-feet-2-inches tall with a 76-inch reach so gives up two inches in height as well as 3.5-inches in reach to Pulev. Gassiev was fighting out of California but recently received Armenian citizenship. North American fans may be familiar with him as he’s fought a few times in the U.S and has beaten the likes of Michael Wallisch, Nuri Seferi, Felix Cora Jr., Rodney Moore, Isiah Thomas, Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, Mike Balogun, Lebedev and Dorticos.
Prediction…
Pulev has good boxing skills for a big guy and while he isn’t really built for speed he has lost just three times in his career and two of those were in world title fights. He’s proven to be more than a handful for most opponents thanks to his jab and technical ability. He hasn’t fought for a year though and is now 44 years old. Gassiev has also fought stiff opposition as a pro and has more power. He’s a bit smaller but considering his experience and the age difference I have a feeling Pulev’s reign might come to an end here. This is a pretty even matchup however and Pulev is quite durable. No outcome will be a surprise here at this stage of their careers and it could go the distance or end in a stoppage but I’m still leaning towards Gassiev.
I’ll go with Gassiev in an evenly-matched fight.
Play: Gassiev -350 @ BetOnline.ag
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Kubrat Pulev betting • Murat Gassiev betting