Video: Murat Gassiev progresses to WBSS semis with brutal body shot KO

A vicious body shot by Murat Gassiev put away former champ Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, setting up a mouthwatering semifinal clash with Yunier Dorticos in the World Boxing Super Series.

The World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight semifinals are now set, as Murat Gassiev (25-0-1 NC, 18 KOs) defended his IBF title by stopping former WBC champ Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (53-4-1, 37 KOs) with an uppercut-body shot combination in Newark, New Jersey. There was no doubt that the body shot did the real damage, as Wlodarczyk dropped to the canvas in serious pain, and he was counted out.

Watch the video for yourself, courtesy of Zombie Prophet.

Murat Gassiev vs Krzysztof Wlodarczyk #WorldBoxingSuperSeries IBF Cruiserweight Title pic.twitter.com/6a1G76aqnN

— Zombie Prophet (@ZPGIFs) October 22, 2017

The 24-year-old Gassiev is trained by Abel Sanchez, who of course trains Gennady Golovkin. Gassiev considers Golovkin to be like an “older brother” to him, and Sanchez believes the Russian will be the cruiserweight version of GGG. That body shot KO was certainly Golovkin-esque.

Up next for Gassiev is a semifinal matchup against Cuba’s Yunier Dorticos, which makes this a title unification bout for Gassiev’s IBF belt and Dorticos’ secondary WBA strap. It will be must-see TV for sure.

World Boxing Super Series Cruiserweight bracket

Quarterfinals (Sept/Oct 2017)

#1 Oleksandr “The Cat” Usyk (WBO champion – 13-0, 11 KOs) def. Marco “Captain” Huck (40-5-1, 27 KOs) by TKO, round 10

#3 Mairis Briedis (WBC champion – 23-0, 18 KOs) def. Mike “The Rebel” Perez (22-3-1, 14 KOs) by unanimous decision

#2 Murat “Iron” Gassiev (IBF champion – 25-0-1 NC, 18 KOs) def. Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (53-4-1, 37 KOs) by KO, round 3

#4 Yunier “The KO Doctor” Dorticos (WBA secondary champion – 22-0, 21 KO) def. Dmitry “The Russian Hammer” Kudryashov (21-2, 21 KO) by KO, round 2

Semifinals (Jan/Feb 2018)

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Mairis Briedis

Yunier Dorticos vs. Murat Gassiev

Final (May 2018 in Saudi Arabia)

Usyk/Briedis winner vs. Dorticos/Gassiev winner

A vicious body shot by Murat Gassiev put away former champ Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, setting up a mouthwatering semifinal clash with Yunier Dorticos in the World Boxing Super Series.

The World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight semifinals are now set, as Murat Gassiev (25-0-1 NC, 18 KOs) defended his IBF title by stopping former WBC champ Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (53-4-1, 37 KOs) with an uppercut-body shot combination in Newark, New Jersey. There was no doubt that the body shot did the real damage, as Wlodarczyk dropped to the canvas in serious pain, and he was counted out.

Watch the video for yourself, courtesy of Zombie Prophet.

The 24-year-old Gassiev is trained by Abel Sanchez, who of course trains Gennady Golovkin. Gassiev considers Golovkin to be like an “older brother” to him, and Sanchez believes the Russian will be the cruiserweight version of GGG. That body shot KO was certainly Golovkin-esque.

Up next for Gassiev is a semifinal matchup against Cuba’s Yunier Dorticos, which makes this a title unification bout for Gassiev’s IBF belt and Dorticos’ secondary WBA strap. It will be must-see TV for sure.

World Boxing Super Series Cruiserweight bracket

Quarterfinals (Sept/Oct 2017)

#1 Oleksandr “The Cat” Usyk (WBO champion – 13-0, 11 KOs) def. Marco “Captain” Huck (40-5-1, 27 KOs) by TKO, round 10

#3 Mairis Briedis (WBC champion – 23-0, 18 KOs) def. Mike “The Rebel” Perez (22-3-1, 14 KOs) by unanimous decision

#2 Murat “Iron” Gassiev (IBF champion – 25-0-1 NC, 18 KOs) def. Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (53-4-1, 37 KOs) by KO, round 3

#4 Yunier “The KO Doctor” Dorticos (WBA secondary champion – 22-0, 21 KO) def. Dmitry “The Russian Hammer” Kudryashov (21-2, 21 KO) by KO, round 2

Semifinals (Jan/Feb 2018)

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Mairis Briedis

Yunier Dorticos vs. Murat Gassiev

Final (May 2018 in Saudi Arabia)

Usyk/Briedis winner vs. Dorticos/Gassiev winner