Detroit’s Isiah Thomas (15-0, 6 KOs) and Russia’s Murat “Iron” Gassiev (22-0, 16 KOs) will meet in a 12-round battle of undefeated cruiserweights as the co-main event of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC)on Spike Friday, December 18 from the Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
This bout will replace the previously scheduled co-main event between Beibut Shumenov and Krzyzstof Wlodarczyk after Shumenov was forced to withdraw due to an eye inury.
PBC on Spike is headlined by undefeated Cuban Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy (23-0, 13 KOs) and Russia’s Denis Shafikov (36-1-1, 19 KOs) in a lightweight world title fight, plus undefeated junior middleweight Chris “Young King” Pearson (13-0, 10 KOs) and rising unbeaten prospect Gervonta “Tank” Davis (13-0, 12 KOs) in separate attractions.
A product of Emanuel Steward’s Kronk Gym in Detroit, Thomas was mentored by the late famed trainer throughout an amateur career that included two Junior Olympic titles and a gold medal at the World Cadet Championships. Since turning pro in 2008, the 26-year-old has yet to lose and most recently picked up an impressive victory over previously unbeaten Jordan Shimmell in July.
A fast-rising 22-year-old prospect, Gassiev is also undefeated since turning pro in 2011 and has delivered three straight stoppage victories since making his stateside debut in January of this year. Representing Vladikavkaz, Russia, he owns victories over the previously unbeaten Leon Harth and veterans Felix Cora Jr., Ismail Adbdoul and Levan Jomardashvili.
