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Shafikov & Gassiev Fights
Mired
In Controversy In Las Vegas
This past Friday night at the Palms Casino Resort in Las
Vegas, world ranked lightweight Denis “Genghis Khan”
Shafikov, (36-2-1, 19KO’s) and undefeated cruiserweight
contender Murat “Iron” Gassiev, (22-0-0, 16KO’s) were
featured in separate fights telecast on Spike TV.
Both fights ended in less than satisfactory matters with
Shafikov and Gassiev coming up short despite putting on
dominating performances.
“Denis and Murat both deserved much better than the scoring
and poor referee’s judgment,” said Leo Khorolinsky of Ural
Boxing Promotions, manager of both fighters.
“Denis fought brilliantly against Rances Barthelemy,
(24-0-0, 13KO’s), for the vacant IBF Lightweight World
Championship, for almost the entire fight he drilled him
with perfect combinations while the opponent looked
confused.”
“Despite being badly cut in the 8th round, Denis still
pressed the action until the end. Barthelemy knew he was in
trouble in the second half and resorted to multiple low
blows which the referee did nothing about.”
At the end of the twelve rounds, Barthelemy was declared the
unanimous decision victor by scores of 116-112 twice and an
appalling 119-109.
Continued Khorolinsky, “For a judge to be so completely
wrong and only give Denis one round tells me he’s not
qualified to assess scores on a world championship level.
The other two were also off in only giving Denis four rounds
as he clearly and effectively pressed the action and won the
fight.”
Featured in the co-main event in an IBF Cruiserweight Title
Eliminator, Gassiev faced the also undefeated Isiah Thomas,
15-0-0 (6KO’s) of Detroit.
Stalking Thomas from the opening bell, Gassiev controlled
the action as he cut off the ring and displayed his full
arsenal of heavy-handed power shots.
At the end of the third round, Gassiev drilled Thomas with a
massive overhand right to the head followed by a second
similar punch that landed just after the sound of the bell
ending the round.
Thomas returned to his corner claiming that he could not
continue and referee Jay Nady sighting his “diminished
capacity” stopped the bout and declared it a no-contest as
the fight did not reach four rounds.
“Thomas was looking for a way out, he knew Gassiev’s power
was too much and that he was going to get badly hurt,” said
Khorolinsky. “If there is a rematch Murat will waste no time
in attacking him and going for a true stoppage.”
“I have full faith in Denis and Murat becoming world
champions, after the holidays they will both return to Big
Bear Lake, California to commence training camps with Abel
Sanchez. We’ll get both of them in the biggest fights
possible in 2016.”
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