(December 10th) WBA Regular Heavyweight Champion Kubrat "The Cobra" Pulev will defend his title against former unified cruiserweight champion Murat "Iron" Gassiev this Friday, December 12, at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium in what shapes as one of the year's most compelling heavyweight clashes.

The bout headlines BETCITY IBA Pro 13, taking place during the inaugural IBA Festival of Boxing, a two-week celebration of the sport running December 2-13 at the Dubai venue.

Officially sanctioned by the World Boxing Association following a special permit request from Pulev's team, the fight carries significant stipulations: Britain's Moses Itauma retains his mandatory challenger status and must face the winner, with negotiations scheduled to begin January 25, 2026, and conclude February 9, 2026.

Should Pulev and Gassiev fight to a draw or no-decision, Itauma will face Pulev directly. If no agreement is reached within the negotiation period, the WBA will call for a purse bid with a 50-50 split. The sanctioning body emphasized that no further special permits will be granted until Itauma exercises his mandatory rights. The British prospect has been cleared to take an optional bout against Jermaine Franklin on January 24, 2026.

Kubrat Pulev, 32-3, 14Ko’s enters the ring at age 44, bringing decades of elite experience to his first title defense. The Bulgarian veteran captured gold at the 2008 European Championships and represented his country at the 2008 Olympics. Despite losses in world title challenges against Wladimir Klitschko in 2014 (stopped in five rounds after being dropped four times) and Anthony Joshua in 2020 (ninth-round knockout), Pulev secured the WBA Regular title in 2024. He rebuilt his career with victories over Derek Chisora (twice) and Hughie Fury, proving his technical mastery and conditioning remain elite weapons.

Murat Gassiev, 32-2, 25Ko’s, age 32, carries devastating power and championship pedigree into the Dubai ring. The Russian knockout artist boasts a formidable 78.13% knockout ratio and unified the IBF and WBA cruiserweight titles during the 2018 World Boxing Super Series. He captured the IBF title with a split decision over Denis Lebedev in 2016, then secured a brutal 12th-round stoppage of Yunier Dorticos in the WBSS semi-final to unify championships. His only defeat before moving to heavyweight came against Oleksandr Usyk in the July 2018 WBSS final, where Usyk won by unanimous decision. Since moving up to heavyweight, Gassiev has steadily built his record with mostly knockout victories, though he suffered a split decision loss to Otto Wallin in 2023.

The matchup pits Pulev's European technical boxing—built on a stiff jab, ring generalship, and high punch volume—against Gassiev's pressure fighting and feared power punching, particularly his devastating left hook to head and body. The central question remains whether Gassiev's knockout power translates effectively against heavyweight opposition, especially a craftsman of Pulev's caliber.

The undercard showcases a mix of title eliminators, fascinating rematches and World championship contests; further underscoring the depth and quality that has become the trademark of IBA Pro:

WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator: Undefeated Tajik sensation Bakhodur Usmonov faces Britain's battle-tested southpaw Maxi Hughes, with the winner earning a shot at Gervonta Davis' WBA world title.

IBA Pro World Bantamweight Title: Venezuelan champion Yoel Finol defends against 2016 Olympic gold medalist Shakhobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan in a highly anticipated rematch following Finol's majority decision victory in December 2024.

WBA Super-Lightweight Title Eliminator: Russian technician Khariton Agrba seeks revenge against Argentine power-puncher Nerii Muñoz after the Argentine's stunning knockout upset in July. The winner advances to challenge Gary Antuanne Russell's WBA championship.

Welterweight Showcase: Undefeated Russian prospect Vadim Musaev (13-0) faces his toughest test against seasoned IBO world champion Tulani Mbenge in a potential show-stealer.

The event anchors the IBA Festival of Boxing, which features the IBA 2025 Men's World Boxing Championships and its record-breaking $8.32 million prize pool—the largest in amateur boxing history.

"I am confident that the whole world will be watching the Gassiev vs Pulev fight, because the world title is on the line," said IBA President Umar Kremlev. "We expect spectacular boxing and a competitive battle between two opponents of the highest calibre. This boxing night will, for the first time, be held as part of IBA Boxing Festival in Dubai. I am confident that the IBA Pro Champions' Night will go down in history alongside the IBA Men's World Boxing Championships as events that delivered the best fights of the year."

IBA Pro General Director Al Siesta added: "From title eliminators to rematches with bad blood, these bouts will provide fans with non-stop action leading up to the main event. The stakes could not be higher on December 12."

EVENT DETAILS

Venue: Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Event Name: BETCITY IBA Pro 13

Promoters: Al Siesta (IB Challenger), John Wirt (Epic Sports)

Matchmaker: Mujtaba Kamal

Broadcast: Free streaming on YouTube

US Broadcast: 8:00 AM EST / 5:00 AM PST

UK Broadcast: 1:00 PM GMT

Main Event Ring Walks: (Expected): 12:00 PM EST / 9:00 AM PST / 5:00 PM GMT