Murat Gassiev knocked out Yunier Dorticos in round 12 during their world title fight in Sochi, Russia, to become the new World Boxing Association (WBA) Cruiserweight Champion.

The Russian, who faced the until-then Cuban champion for the semifinal of the World Boxing Super Series, went from less to more during the fight and showed an impeccable strategy to prevail over his opponent.

Gassiev started the fight going back against Dorticos, who chased him around the ring at first. Despite not going to the front, the Russian launched combinations to the sides of his rival and managed to connect both in the middle area and in the face in a demonstration of his power.

As the fight went on, the Russian began to show his better physical condition and thanks to his work with the uppercuts to the jaw and the hooks to the face, he started to restrain the impetus of the Cuban. A left hook in the final round caused the first fall of Dorticos, who got up but could not stand the blows of Gassiev and was knocked down for the second time.

In a demonstration of courage, the Cuban rejoined, but it was a matter of seconds before Gassiev sent him to the canvas for the third time and definitively.

Now, the new champion has a record of 26 wins, no losses and 19 knockouts, while the defeated left his record at 22 wins, 1 loss and 21 knockouts.