Kubrat Pulev vs. Murat Gassiev: Who has the edge heading into their fight?

There will be high stakes Friday when Kubrat Pulev puts his WBA ‘regular’ heavyweight championship on the line against Murat Gassiev at Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Dubai, and live on DAZN.

The winner will likely clash with 20-year-old phenom and knockout artist Moses Itauma next year as long as Itauma defeats Jermaine Franklin on January 24, live on DAZN.

The 44-year-old Pulev (32-3, 14 KOs) captured the WBA ‘regular’ title via a unanimous decision over Mahmoud Charr in December 2024. Meanwhile, Gassiev (32-2, 25 KOs) last produced a stoppage of Jeremiah Milton in August.

Will Pulev, at 44, find a way to defeat a younger Gassiev, 12 years his junior? Or will Gassiev overwhelm the older champ with too much firepower? DAZN News analyzes who has the edge heading into this title tilt.

Boxing Styles

Both heavyweights show a disciplined guard with a willingness to work behind the jab.

Pulev has a 3½-inch reach advantage that he will look to assert with the stick, though Gassiev certainly moves well enough with level changes to get inside of that weapon.

The difference comes in hand speed and volume where a younger Gassiev is a few steps ahead of Pulev.

Not only can Gassiev piece together combinations smoother but he can land them with quicker hands.

This could give the rather mechanical, methodical Pulev problems especially if Gassiev targets the hulking Bulgarian’s body with digging blows early.

In this clash of styles, Gassiev has the advantage.

Edge: Gassiev

Power

In the heavyweight division, all fighters have one-punch knockout power as part of their arsenal. Pulev and Gassiev are not exceptions.

It is just that Gassiev’s power is more blistering as the Russian counts 25 knockouts to Pulev’s 14.

You’d have to go back to March 2019 for Pulev’s last knockout victory — a seventh-round KO of Bogdan Dinu.

Meanwhile, Gassiev enters this bout with two straight knockout wins and six stoppage victories in his last seven fights.

Edge: Gassiev

Mental Warfare

Pulev and Gassiev both tout quality experience against some of the top heavyweights in the world.

After all, Pulev has shared the ring with Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko, and Gassiev went the distance with Oleksandr Usyk. If there is a single push here in this mental warfare category, it might be that Pulev has not fought in over a year, while Gassiev has been more active.

That ring rust is every bit as mental of a hurdle to overcome as physical and it is something Pulev might have to contend with Friday in Dubai.

Edge: Gassiev

Who has the edge in Pulev vs. Gassiev?

DAZN News has the 3-0 edge going to Gassiev, though this fight could be a lot closer in the ring than on paper. Both men are extremely tough outs as Gassiev has never been knocked out and Pulev only suffered KO defeats at the hands of AJ and Klitschko. No shame there.

Boxing fans could get an absolute heavyweight war Friday night.

Sign up to DAZN Ultimate Tier to get PPV's included in your subscription 

Subscribe to DAZN's new Ultimate Tier to get a minimum of 12 PPV events included per year, including The Ring V and Lopez vs. Stevenson, on top of another 185 fight nights. Plus Serie A football, watch on multiple devices, and many more extra benefits.

Sign up for £22.99 in the UK / $44.99 in the U.S. More details here.