Former IBF, WBA cruiserweight world champion Murat Gassiev empathised that his recent ring return, and the very quick knockout victory over Albanian Nuri Seferi, was very important for him.

Gassiev made his heavyweight debut this past Saturday night in Sochi and blew away Seferi in the first round.

The Russian puncher entered the ring for the first time since July 2018, when he lost a twelve round unanimous decision to Oleksandr Usyk in the final round of the World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight tournament.

After that fight, Gassiev underwent surgery on his shoulder and changed his weight class, but his debut in the heavyweight division was postponed several times.

“I was preparing for this fight in Vladikavkaz. The main task was to win, no matter how - by knockout in the first round, or victory on points. Again, the main thing is victory, and it does not matter in which round it was obtained. This is boxing, he also could of hit me," Gassiev told Vasily Konov.

"The main thing is to return to the ring. I hope I will enter the ring more often. I will try to return to my previous form. It's very difficult to go without fights, you can train as much as you like, but this will never replace the emotions of what you feel in the ring or the combat experience.

"I was a champion in two organizations at cruiserweight. I wanted to become undisputed, but it did not work out. Now my main goal is to become a heavyweight champion. I will try to do everything to achieve this. I had injuries. I want to wish all athletes the very best to avoid injuries, because I cannot describe in words what I have experienced over these two years. I am very happy to enter the ring, thank God for that."