Murat Gassiev Knocks Out Kubrat Pulev to Win WBA Regular Title

Dubai, UAE - Murat Gassiev delivered a statement performance on Saturday night, detonating a devastating sixth-round left hook to knock out Kubrat Pulev and capture the WBA Regular heavyweight title in Dubai.

Just as Pulev appeared to be settling into a rhythm behind his familiar one-two combinations, Gassiev stepped sharply to his left and uncorked a perfectly timed left hook that dropped the Bulgarian champion heavily to the canvas. Pulev made a valiant attempt to rise, but the count was academic — the fight was over.

Fight Narrative

For much of the opening half of the bout, Pulev appeared to be executing the kind of measured, jab-centric approach that has served him well throughout his long career.

Using his size, reach, and experience, Pulev worked behind a steady left jab and straight right, probing Gassiev from range and dictating the early tempo. While the punches were not damaging, they were consistent, and Pulev’s control of distance helped him edge several of the early rounds.

Gassiev, however, remained patient.

The former unified cruiserweight champion focused on cutting angles rather than matching Pulev punch for punch, targeting the body whenever opportunities arose and looking for moments to explode with his power. Although he threw less volume, Gassiev’s shots carried more menace, particularly when he stepped inside and dug hooks to the midsection.

By the middle rounds, the dynamic began to shift. Gassiev grew increasingly assertive, pressing forward more often and showing flashes of the speed and athleticism that once made him one of the most feared punchers below heavyweight. Pulev continued to score with his jab, but the fight was tightening, and Gassiev’s confidence was building.

The end came suddenly in the sixth.

As Pulev landed a left uppercut following his trademark one-two, Gassiev slipped to his left and fired a thunderous left hook that landed flush. Pulev collapsed to the canvas, clearly stunned. Though he struggled to his feet, he was never going to beat the referee’s count.

Official Result

Murat Gassiev def. Kubrat Pulev via KO (Round 6)
WBA Regular Heavyweight Title
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium — Dubai, UAE

Records

• Murat Gassiev: improves to 33–2 (26 KOs)
• Kubrat Pulev: falls to 32–4 (14 KOs)

What It Means

For Gassiev, this was the kind of moment his heavyweight campaign had been building toward. After years of questions about how his power would translate against bigger men, the 32-year-old answered emphatically, showing patience, composure, and finishing instincts at the highest level. With the WBA Regular title now around his waist, Gassiev re-establishes himself as a serious player in the heavyweight picture.

For Pulev, now 44, the loss was a harsh reminder of the fine margins at the elite level. He boxed intelligently for stretches and used his experience to control portions of the fight, but one lapse was all it took against a puncher of Gassiev’s caliber. Whether this marks the end of Pulev’s run at world level remains to be seen.

In the broader heavyweight landscape, Gassiev’s knockout injects fresh intrigue into the WBA title mix. With Oleksandr Usyk’s future plans still unfolding and contenders lining up across multiple sanctioning bodies, Gassiev’s arrival as a belt-holder ensures his name will now feature prominently in conversations heading into 2026.