Murat Gassiev explains why Moses Itauma fight failed to materialise

Murat Gassiev has revealed the reason why Moses Itauma's fight is not happening next despite his mandatory status.

Many were expecting Gassiev to defend his WBA 'regular' heavyweight title against Itauma next. As the Chatham southpaw is the mandatory for the belt.

Gassiev's predecessor Kubrat Pulev was supposed to defend the WBA belt against Itauma last year.

However, Pulev and Gassiev reached a deal for a voluntary defence, avoiding the need for WBA intervention.

Pulev vs Gassiev was therefore allowed to happen on the condition that whoever wins would immediately defend the belt against Itauma.

Gassiev secured a brutal sixth-round stoppage victory over Pulev in December.

And while Murat Gassiev was ready to fight Moses Itauma next, the Brit opted to go another route.

Itauma is now expected to box Filip Hrgovic in August, while Gassiev will defend his WBA 'regular' belt against Tony Yoka on July 11 in Moscow, Russia.

"[In February] I said, 'Ok, let's talk," Gassiev told talkSPORT.com of the negotiations for his next fight.

"Some negotiations, some talks, some promoters, managers, teams, no problem, just give me the location, time, date, and let's fight.

"But it's boxing - this is a serious business. Maybe it's not the perfect time for this fight right now. Maybe after July we will fight, or maybe next year.

"Moses has a good team, a good promoter, a good manager, and a good coach. [I think] his team makes this fight [with Hrgovic] because it is the best for him right now, because he's young, maybe he doesn't have the experience.

"Maybe for his career this fight with Hrgovic is perfect."

While Gassiev seems interested in a future fight with Itauma, currently, his focus remains on Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallist Yoka.

"I watched the Olympic Games, [when] he won the gold medal," Gassiev added.

"He is a big fighter with good boxing skills. This is a very very hard fight for me. He beat the best fighters in the world as an amateur.

"He is a warrior and he is coming to beat me, so I am ready for this...Right now, all I care about is this fight."