The former unified cruiserweight star landed a fantastic left hook halfway through the dozen-round contest to firmly put himself into heavyweight contention.

Victory for Gassiev effectively adds another serious option to a busy division currently undergoing a generational sea change beneath Oleksandr Usyk.

The reward for the star will likely be a bout with the WBA's top-ranked challenger Moses Itauma, with the winner poised to challenge for the Ukrainian's full belt.

For Pulev however, at fourty-four years old, it likely brings the curtain down on a career that saw bouts with Anthony Joshua and Derek Chisora in 2020 and 2022.

He previously took the junior strap from Mahmoud Charr by decision twelve months ago in his native Bulgaria, but could not deliver a successful first defence.

Itauma meanwhile will seek to keep his own challenge for the top on track when he returns to the ring next month for the first time since victory over Dillian Whyte.

The Briton will take on Jermaine Franklin as he bids to extend his superb professional record, with a likely title challenge possibly looming in the back half of 2026.

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