Russian victim Usik knocked out the American super heavyweight in his first serious punch in the championship fight. Video

World-famous Russian super heavyweight Murat Gassiev (30-1, 23 KOs) scored a speedy victory over the 39-year-old American ex-football player Mike Balogun (20-1, 16 KOs). The fight for the WBA Intercontinental title in Armenia ended in the second round with a knockout of the 29-year-old Gassiev.

The match started at a leisurely pace where the American fighter looked decent, showed good movement around the ring, tried to counter with jabs, and kept Gassiev at a distance. The Russian also did not force the situation, but gradually pressed his opponent, trying to "read" him.

The denouement came in the 2nd three minutes. Gassiev gradually took over the center and began to push his opponent to the ropes. Balogun began to fidget and tried to move to the left. At that moment Murat delivered his first powerful blow of the fight, which became fatal.

Balogun fell to the floor of the ring, refusing to get up despite the fact that visually he was in adequate condition.

In the comments Russian fans reacted ambiguously to the success of their compatriot, noting that his opponent was more like a "sack".

"By the looks, after the fight, you can't tell if Murat won or lost. in fact, it would seem that he won, but as a boxer lost again. Time goes on, the sack diet does not go away," wrote the users.

Before that, Murat Gassiev had his last fight in August 2022. The Vladikavkaz native defeated Carlous Welch by knockout with the first punch.

It should be noted that a few days before the fight with Balogun, Gassiev received Armenian citizenship.

On July 21, 2018, Gassiev lost to Alexander Usik. The Ukrainian won the finals of the World Boxing Super Series in the first heavyweight division and took the four main belts and the Cup named after his idol, Mohammed Ali.

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