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Gassiev takes Lebedev’s belt
- Updated: December 3, 2016
Murat Gassiev is the new IBF cruiserweight champion after beating fellow Russian Denis Lebedev on a split points decision in Moscow on Saturday night.
Lebedev, coached by the legendary Freddie Roach, produced a true warrior’s display to rally from a knockdown but he would lose 116-112 and 116-111 on two of the cards, with the third judge giving the champion a 114-113 verdict.
The 37-year-old had the better of the opening two, fairly cagey, rounds but the rangy Gassiev (24-0-KO17) grew into the fight in the third and pushed the champion’s head back with a couple of decent shots.
Backed by a partisan crowd Lebedev (29-3-KO22) started to get his combinations going, albeit at times struggling with an obvious reach disadvantage, but his best work often lacked impact.
And Gassiev’s explosive power showed in the fifth when he connected …
