Murat Gassiev to face Peter Kadiru for the WBA Heavyweight world title
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 07 Jul 2026
Lausanne, Switzerland — German heavyweight Peter Kadiru will now face WBA Heavyweight World Champion Murat “Iron” Gassiev in the main event on Saturday, July 11 at VTB Arena in Moscow.
French heavyweight Tony Yoka was forced to withdraw from the scheduled world title clash with Gassiev due to a back injury. Kadiru has now stepped up for a shot at the full WBA Heavyweight World Title.
Russian icon, Murat Gassiev, enters the contest as the reigning WBA Heavyweight champion, having become his nation’s first World heavyweight titleholder in over a decade with his electrifying sixth-round knockout of Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev at IBA Pro 13 in December. The 32-year-old North Ossetia-native boasts a fearsome record of 33-2 (26 KOs), and is considered by many to be one of the sport’s most devastating punchers — as demonstrated by his highlight reel ‘Knockout of the Year’ of Pulev in front of a capacity crowd. Now, the man fittingly nicknamed ‘Iron’ returns home to defend the belt that Russia waited more than a decade to reclaim.
Hamburg native, Kadiru (23-1, 13 KOs), however, has aspirations of his own and will enter July 11’s showpiece event with the knowledge that a win could see the German in line for a shot at the heavyweight division’s leading names. Fresh off a unanimous decision win over Senad Gashi in May, Kadiru has established himself as one of the German heavyweight division’s most recognisable names and will travel to Moscow fully confident of springing the upset over Murat Gassiev.
This matchup promises to be a compelling and competitive heavyweight clash. Both men are formidable punchers capable of ending the fight at any moment, setting the stage for an explosive, high-stakes encounter that could reshape the heavyweight landscape.
Murat Gassiev said: “I was fully prepared and ready for Tony Yoka, but boxing is unpredictable and champions must adapt. Peter Kadiru is a big, strong, experienced fighter with a solid amateur pedigree and real power. Fighting at home in Moscow in front of my Russian fans for my first defence is special. I will be ready on July 11 and I intend to keep the WBA World Heavyweight Title in Russia.”
Peter Kadiru said: “Since my win over Senad Gashi, I’ve been in the gym training and wanting to be back in the ring. I’m excited for the opportunity to travel to Russia and challenge for the WBA Heavyweight World Title on July 11. This is my moment. My team and I are locked in and Moscow should get ready for a big performance.”
Umar Kremlev, President of the International Boxing Association (IBA): “We wish Tony Yoka a full and speedy recovery from his back injury. Murat Gassiev defending his crown at home against a resilient and dangerous fighter like Peter Kadiru at short notice perfectly embodies the spirit of the IBA. July 11 at VTB Arena will be a historic and unforgettable night for boxing fans.”
Florian Winter, Ringside Zone CEO: ‘We are grateful for this opportunity and we will show the world how great Peter Kadiru is. He is in great shape and he’s ready to give a proper champions' fight to Gassiev.”
Tickets are available via the link.
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