Moscow, Russia - Murat Gassiev (24-0-1, 17KOs) dropped and won a twelve round split decision over Denis Lebedev (29-3, 22KOs) to capture the IBF cruiserweight title. The scores were 114-113 for Lebedev, 116-112 for Gassiev and 116-111 for Gassiev

Both fighters had world class trainers from the United States. Lebedev with Hall of Famer Freddie Roach and Gassiev with Abel Sanchez.

Lebedev's WBA cruiserweight championship was not at stake in the contest. He obtained permission from the sanctioning body to view this encounter as a non-title affair. He is now obligated to make a mandatory defense against the winner of the upcoming fight between Yunier Dorticos and Beibut Shumenov.

Both fighters came out cautious, looking to find some range. Gassiev was using his jab, while Lebedev was focused by going to the body. In the final minute of the first, Lebedev was clocked with a big right and he took it well. Lebedev began to get more active at the start of the second. Gassiev was also picking up the pace. Lebedev was quicker with his punches and getting to the target. The fight was a real chess match at this point with Lebedev having the edge.

Gassiev came out throwing the jab in the third and looking to land something big off the punch. Lebedev started throwing a jab of his own to disrupt Gassiev's pace. Gassiev started landing some shorts to the body and got  more aggressive as Lebedev was having too much success by moving and boxing. The fourth saw Gassiev start to walk Lebedev down and he was letting his hands go. Gassiev was getting far more active and starting to land a little more to the head and body, but Lebedev was still getting in shots of his own although not as many.

Gassiev continued to target the body in the fifth and landed a huge hook to the liver that sent Lebedev down and he struggled to get back to his feet. Gassiev was stalking, punishing the body and looking to close the show. Lebedev was moving and moving and managed to survive. Lebdev came out jabbing and boxing in the sixth and Gassiev was coming forward and getting hit for his trouble. Gassiev went back to targeting the body with hard hooks that had Lebedev on the ring. The punches were having a good effect as Lebedev was not moving around as often and starting to drop his hands with Gassiev now finding the head.

Gassive was digging to the body in the sixth. Lebedev erupted with a combination of punches to push Gassiev back for a moment. Gassiev continued to come forward and land shots to the body. Lebedev's face was starting to the show the damage of Gassiev's punches. Early in the seventh, Gassiev continued to go for the body. Lebedev was being walked down, but he was moving and letting his hands go when Gassiev would walk inside. Gassiev continued to press forward and he was landing with deadly purpose. Lebedev was unsteady on his feet, tiring and getting hit more often.

A big right at the start of the ninth seemed to wobble Lebedev. The champion recovered well and was firing with both hands. The round was close with both having their moments, but Lebedev seemed to edge it with his workrate. In the tenth, Lebedev stunned Gassiev for a moment with a counter-left. Gassiev was able to weather the storm and came back to hurt Lebedev with a combination and had him on the run in the final minute.

Gassiev came out firing in the eleventh round. Gassiev really digging down and throwing his punches. Lebedev was throwing as well, but his punches were not having the same effect. Gassiev was making the mistake of looking for one big punch at a time, while Lebedev was throwing several punches in the return. Both fighters were tired at the start of the twelfth. Both had their moments in a close pitched round as they traded shots for most of the three minutes.