Gassiev Unsure if Fury-Joshua Fight Includes WBA Belt

Boxer Murat Gassiev stated he was surprised to see reports indicating that the highly anticipated fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua would be for his WBA world title. Gassiev, who holds the WBA (Super) cruiserweight title, was not informed of any such arrangement prior to the news surfacing. This uncertainty raises questions about the official status of the WBA belt in the context of the Fury-Joshua bout, which is scheduled to take place on May 18, 2024, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight is expected to be a significant event in the heavyweight division, drawing considerable attention from boxing fans and media worldwide.

Gassiev's current WBA (Super) cruiserweight title reign began on July 27, 2018, when he defeated Yunier Dorticos in the World Boxing Super Series final. He has since defended the title once, against Naim Terbunja on February 17, 2019. The cruiserweight division is distinct from the heavyweight division where Fury and Joshua compete. Therefore, the claim that Gassiev's WBA belt would be on the line for a heavyweight championship fight is unusual and requires clarification from official boxing bodies.

Neither Tyson Fury nor Anthony Joshua's camps have officially confirmed the inclusion of Gassiev's WBA title in their upcoming clash. The fight is being promoted as a major event regardless of additional title implications, with both fighters aiming to solidify their legacy in the sport. Fury, the reigning IBF, WBA (Super), WBO, and IBO heavyweight champion, is set to face Joshua, a two-time unified world heavyweight champion. The bout is being billed as the biggest fight in British boxing history.

Boxing regulations typically dictate that titles are contested by fighters within the same weight class. The WBA, along with other major sanctioning bodies like the WBC, IBF, and WBO, have specific rules regarding championship fights. The potential inclusion of a cruiserweight title in a heavyweight championship bout would represent a significant deviation from standard practice and would likely require special dispensation or a formal announcement from the WBA itself. Gassiev's statement suggests a lack of communication or a misunderstanding regarding the fight's official stakes.