12:29, 24 July 2018

Fans urge Gassiev to improve his boxing style

Murat Gassiev's fans in Moscow. Photo by Alan Tskhurbayev for the "Caucasian Knot"

Despite his loss of the final fight of the World Boxing Super Series, Murat Gassiev was warmly greeted by hundreds of fans in Vladikavkaz. His fight with Oleksandr Usyk from Ukraine revealed boxing style weaknesses of the young Ossetian athlete; Gassiev needs experience of fighting with different rivals prior to passing over to the heavyweight category, his fans have noted.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Gassiev versus Usyk fight ended in the first ever defeat of the Ossetian boxer, despite the support of residents of his republic and the entire Caucasus.

In the Caucasus, power combats are a traditional part of culture; and successes of their fellow countrymen at world-level competitions remind them of antique warriors, residents of North and South Ossetia told before the Gassiev's fight.

On July 23, at the Vladikavkaz Airport, more than 2000 residents of North Ossetia and a delegation from South Ossetia welcomed Murat Gassiev on his arrival after the most difficult fight in his career.

Despite the loss, Gassiev was welcomed as a winner. One of the elders noted that the republic was proud of him, after which dozens of bikers and cars with flags of North Ossetia and Russia escorted Gassiev to the city.

Ossetian fans very actively supported Gassiev; and many could not hide their disappointment after the winner was announced, wrote Alan Tskhurbaev, the author of the blog "Ossetia and Around: View from Within", that he runs on the "Caucasian Knot".

Alik Pukhaev, another blogger, noted that some fans accused Gassiev that he "came to the fight unprepared," while the coaching staff was criticized for "their poorly drafted plan for the fight."

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 24, 2018 at 00:53 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.