Tony Yoka Out Of Murat Gassiev Title Fight With Back Injury
Yoka’s withdrawal leaves Gassiev’s WBA title defense in limbo just days before Moscow showdown.
Tony Yoka has pulled out of his WBA heavyweight title fight against Murat Gassiev, scheduled for July 11 at Moscow’s VTB Arena, after suffering a back injury. The cancellation comes just days before the Moscow showdown, ending Yoka’s first world title opportunity since his 2016 Olympic gold in Rio. The WBA had ordered the bout as part of Gassiev’s mandatory defense, marking his first title defense since winning the interim belt in 2023.
This fight was meant to elevate Gassiev from interim to full WBA champion, a step he’s chased since 2023. Promoters K2 Promotions and Arena Fight Boxing now face a scramble: find a replacement opponent for Gassiev or postpone the event entirely. The injury adds to Yoka’s history of cancellations, including a 2023 bout scrapped due to a rib issue.
