Gassiev has 'respect' for Itauma - but teases future heavyweight clash

WBA heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev has expressed his 'respect' for Moses Itauma while teasing that a future fight could soon be on the cards.

Gassiev is set to pursue his 34th professional victory when he faces Tony Yoka in Moscow on July 11. A win would preserve his status as the mandatory challenger - behind Agit Kabayel - for a shot at Super champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Itauma, though, was ordered to fight Gassiev by the WBA earlier in the year, but opted to fight American Jermaine Franklin at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester instead, against whom he scored an impressive fifth-round stoppage.

However, Gassiev remains open to a future clash with the British star, who is reportedly set to face Filip Hrgovic in London this August.

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"[Itauma] is very young, he has a lot of time. Right now he just needs to enjoy, have fun in the gym, in training camp, in the fights," Gassiev told Sky Sports.

"He has a good future. Right now he went this way, I went that way.

"Maybe, at the end of the year or maybe next year, we can make the fight, in the UK - or anywhere. But right now for me, my focus is Tony [Yoka]."

While Gassiev is aware of Itauma's youth, he doesn't underestimate the British heavyweight's capability in the ring, which has earned him a vaunted 14-0-0 record with 12 KOs after 14 career fights.

"He's 21 - very young - but his style, he doesn't fight like a kid," Gassiev said. "He's smart, he's strong. He has a strong mentality. And you never know what will happen in the ring.

"Right now, I watch him, and I can say only that I respect him, only good things about him, because he's young.

"He's not a trash talker. He always has respect, doesn't speak too much [about his opponents], just does his job.

"I see myself in the mirror [when I look at him], because I remember when I 21 years old, I was the same - humble, quiet, just training and trying to win my fights, trying to do best in the ring."

Siesta: Itauma is the future, but Gassiev is the present

Gassiev's promoter Al Siesta, speaking on the Toe2Toe podcast:

"Murat Gassiev can cope with anyone.

"Forgive me for making a statement here, but I truly believe - in his current form and shape - he will unify the division.

"I do believe he's a serious contender to unify the division in the next two years. Maybe it will be Moses Itauma, it will be Daniel Dubois [that he'll fight against] - whoever it will be, they will be on a collision course with Gassiev.

"We actually wanted to make a fight against Itauma, but it didn't work out. Hopefully we will get it soon.

'I do believe Itauma is a great prospect, but - I don't want to be sounding big headed for Gassiev - he is the present. You'll see very soon."

Watch MVPW-06 in Birmingham, headlined by Mikaela Mayer vs Chantelle Cameron and with Caroline Dubois also in action, live on August 29 on Sky Sports. Get Sky Sports or stream boxing with no contract.