In the very spectacular battle Murat Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs) scored an TKO victory in the 12th round over the previously undefeated Yunier Dorticos (22-1, 21 KOs). Gassiev added WBA cruiserweight belt to his IBF title and went to the final of the World Boxing Super Series, where he will meet WBO/WBC title holder Oleksandr Usyk on May 11 in Saudi Arabia.
After equal first four rounds Gassiev picked up the pace and went forward, and later began to take a round by round. Dorticos remained dangerous with blows from the right until the very end, but Gassiev landed more and his punches seemed to caused more damage than Cuban ones.
In the eleventh round Dorticos missed a heavy punch and was hurt. Dorticos caught on his opponent in the clinch and even managed to respond with his own punches. In the twelfth round, however, the tonnage of missed blows clearly affected him and after the left hook Dorticos fell heavily to the floor. He was able to rise, but Gassiev rushed to the finish him off and again sent him to the canvas. The Cuban was in a difficult situation, but the referee decided to give him a chance to live till the final bell. Dorticos did not succeed in this, and Gassiev effectively knocked him out through the ropes, putting a spectacular end in the second most beautiful semifinal of the World Boxing Super Series.
Time of the stoppage was 2:52.
Oleksandr Usyk, who watched the fight from the ringside, rose to the ring after the fight, greeted Gassiev with his victory and posed with him for the cameras.
