IRON vs GOLD: Murat Gassiev to defend WBA heavyweight title to Olympic gold medalist Tony Yoka in Moscow
The eyes of the boxing world will descend on the Russian capital this summer as WBA Heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev makes the first defence of his crown against 2016 Olympic gold medalist Tony Yoka at IBA Pro 19 on July 11.
Co-promoted by IB Challenger, Epic Sports & Entertainment, Patriot Promotion, Ural Boxing Promotions, Queensberry Promotions, and Yoka Boxing, in association with Winline, IBA Pro 19 promises to deliver one of the most explosive heavyweight match-ups of 2026.
Russian icon Murat Gassiev enters the contest as the reigning WBA Heavyweight champion, having become his nation’s first World heavyweight titleholder in over a decade with his electrifying sixth-round knockout of Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev at IBA Pro 13 in December.
The 32-year-old North Ossetia-native boasts a fearsome record of 33-2 (26 KOs), and is considered by many to be one of the sport’s most devastating punchers – as demonstrated by his highlight reel ‘Knockout of the Year’ of Pulev in-front of a capacity crowd at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium. Much of his career has played out under licensing regimes far removed from the British one, the backdrop to our explainer on non GamStop betting sites and the operators that sit outside the scheme.
Now, the man fittingly nicknamed ‘Iron’ returns home to defend the belt that Russia waited thirteen years to reclaim.
WBA Heavyweight World Champion, Murat Gassiev, said: “It is an honour to defend the WBA World Heavyweight Title for the first time, and to do it at home in front of my Russian fans makes it extra special. Tony Yoka is a tremendous champion, an Olympic gold medallist, a big, strong heavyweight with serious skills. I have huge respect for him. I would like to thank both my team and President Kremlev for this opportunity. On July 11, I will do my absolute best to win and keep the belt in Russia.”
In the opposite corner, Paris puncher Tony Yoka (15-3, 12 KOs) arrives in Moscow with an opportunity to further cement his place in the French boxing history books.
After the 33-year-old famously captured Olympic super-heavyweight gold at Rio 2016, Yoka now sets his sights on becoming his nation’s first ever World Heavyweight champion in the professional ranks.
Standing at a gargantuan 6 foot 7″ tall, Yoka possesses the size, reach and skill-set to trouble any heavyweight on the planet. Now, just one fight away from realising his ultimate ambition, a world title, the Frenchman is adamant he will leave Moscow as the new force in the blue ribbon heavyweight division.
Olympic Gold Medalist, Tony Yoka, said: “I’m going to win this world title for all my people in France and Congo that have not only stuck with me, but still believe in me becoming a professional world champion. I’ve been working hard for over two years now with Don Charles and I’m ready to showcase to the boxing world the changes in my professional Boxing. I want to thank Don and my team for backing me 100% through this period, as well as Frank and George Warren at the best promoters in the world, Queensberry, for getting me this opportunity which I will make the most of.”
Umar Kremlev, President of the International Boxing Association (IBA), said: “The IBA is incredibly proud to bring an outstanding heavyweight fight of this magnitude to Moscow. Murat Gassiev and Tony Yoka represent the absolute pinnacle of boxing excellence – one an incredible WBA world champion defending his crown at home, the other a legendary Olympic gold medallist fighting for professional glory. This event represents the key value the IBA stands for: providing the opportunity and ultimate platform for the world’s premier talent to compete at the highest level. July 11 will not just be an unforgettable IBA Pro evening for the fans, being a landmark, historic moment for global boxing.”
Hall of Fame Promoter, Frank Warren said: “This is a great fight and one that we at Queensberry truly believe our man will win. Tony and Don Charles have been working extremely hard in the gym, so we fully expect them to go to Russia and do the business against a tough opponent in Gassiev and bring the title back to France.”
Al Siesta, promoter for IB Challenger said: “Murat Gassiev is the WBA World Heavyweight Champion and after he claimed the title in Dubai, we promised that he would be in exciting fights in 2026. Gassiev vs Yoka is a very exciting fight. Tony is an Olympic gold medalist, a giant of a man and a French sporting hero. He is coming to Moscow to take Murat’s belt, but Gassiev is ready. This is an excellent heavyweight title fight and we are honoured to deliver it on home soil for Murat. To the boxing world: get your tickets and get ready, because July 11 in Moscow is going to be unforgettable.”
IBA Pro 19 is promoted by IB Challenger, Epic Sports & Entertainment, Patriot Promotion, Ural Boxing Promotions, Queensberry, and Yoka Boxing, in association with Winline.
IBA Pro 19: Murat Gassiev vs Tony Yoka
Saturday, 11 July 2026 – Moscow, Russia
🎟️ Tickets: https://ibapro.intickets.ru/seance/72575944/
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