![\"Gassiev](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-470151762.jpg\")
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Gassiev is the WBA ‘regular’ heavyweight championCredit: GETTY<\/p>\n
Gassiev’s predecessor Kubrat Pulev<\/a> had been ordered to defend the WBA belt against Itauma last year.<\/p>\n However, Pulev and Gassiev reached an agreement for a voluntary defence<\/a> before the WBA sought its resolution.<\/p>\n Pulev vs Gassiev was therefore permitted to go ahead on the condition that whoever emerged victorious would immediately defend the belt against Itauma.<\/p>\n Gassiev went on to score a brutal sixth round knockout victory over Pulev in December.<\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE ON BOXING <\/p>\n And while Gassiev was ready and willing to take on Itauma next, the Brit opted to go another route. <\/p>\n Itauma is now expected to box Filip Hrgovic at the back end of August,<\/a> while Gassiev will make the first defence of his WBA ‘regular’ belt against Tony Yoka on July 11 in Moscow, Russia.<\/a><\/p>\n “[In February] I said, ‘Ok, let’s talk,” Gassiev told talkSPORT.com of his failed negotiations with Itauma\u2019s team. <\/p>\n “Some negotiations, some talks, some promoters, managers, teams, no problem, just give me the location, time, date, and let’s fight.<\/p>\n “But it’s boxing – this is a serious business. Maybe it’s not the perfect time for this fight right now.<\/p>\n “Maybe after July we will fight, or maybe next year.<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Itauma is reportedly facing Hrgovic nextCredit: Getty<\/p>\n “Moses has a good team, a good promoter, a good manager, and a good coach.<\/p>\n ” [I think] his team makes this fight [with Hrgovic] because it is the best for him right now, because he’s young, maybe he doesn’t have the experience.<\/p>\n “Maybe for his career this fight with Hrgovic is perfect.” <\/p>\n While Gassiev is willing to revisit a fight with Itauma, he is by no means overlooking Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallist Yoka.<\/p>\n “I watched the Olympic Games, [when] he won the gold medal,” Gassiev added.<\/p>\n “He is a big fighter with good boxing skills.<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Gassiev will defend his belt against Yoka on July 11Credit: Getty<\/p>\n “This is a very very hard fight for me. He beat the best fighters in the world as an amateur.<\/p>\n “He is a warrior and he is coming to beat me, so I am ready for this…<\/p>\n “Right now, all I care about is this fight.”<\/p>\n Read More on talkSPORT<\/p>\n Yoka (15-3) is in the midst of career rebuild after a disastrous 19 months that saw the Frenchman lose three consecutive fights to Martin Bakole, Carlos Takam<\/a>, and Ryad Mehry between 2022 and 2023. <\/p>\n He was due to box Lawrence Okolie<\/a> in a WBC eliminator bout on April 25, but the card was cancelled<\/a> after the Brit tested positive for the banned human growth hormone (HGH) stimulator GHRP-2.<\/p>\n Watch Boxing on DAZN<\/p>\n *If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue<\/p>\n Sign up to DAZN<\/a> to access the definitive subscription for boxing fans.<\/p>\n Upgrade to DAZN Ultimate<\/a> from just \u00a324.99\/month, guaranteeing access to 185+ fights annually, a minimum of 12 pay-per-views at no extra cost, as well as every Lega Serie A match and other elite football access.<\/p>\n Alternatively, DAZN Standard<\/a> is just \u00a315.99\/month, with the caveat you will have to pay for pay-per-view events.<\/p>\n![\"Moses](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/crop-3478591.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Gassiev](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Yoka.jpg\")
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