Murat Gassiev starches Jordan Shimmell in one

May

Photo credit: Andy Samuelson/Premier Boxing Champions

Undefeated cruiserweight contender and IBF No. 1 mandatory title challenger Murat Gassiev. Photo credit: Andy Samuelson/Premier Boxing Champions

Murat Gassiev put the cruiserweight division on notice Tuesday night, doing so at the expense of Jordan Shimmell.

Gassiev scored a devastating one-punch knockout win over Shimmell at the Black Bear Casino in Carlton, Minnesota, on a Premier Boxing Champions card, broadcast on FS1.

Gassiev, who becomes the mandatory challenger for the IBF cruiserweight title, improves to 23-0 (17 knockouts). Shimmell drops to 20-2 (16 KOs).

It was Gassiev’s eighth consecutive knockout win. The only blemish on his record was in his previous fight on Dec. 18, when he fought to a no-contest after the third round against Isiah Thomas.

Shimmell suffered his only loss as a pro to Thomas on July 25.

Shimmell was the more effective fighter in the opening round, initiating exchanges and beating Gassiev to the punch.

Toward the end of the round, Gassiev unloaded a vicious counter left hook that connected to Shimmell’s chin, dropping him flat onto the canvas next to the ropes. Referee Mark Nelson immediately waved the fight over at 2:54.

Shimmell remained motionless on his back while ringside physicians and EMTs tended to him. He was able to get up after being down for several minutes.

Gassiev is trained by Abel Sanche,z alongside IBF/WBA middleweight titleholder Gennady Golovkin in Big Bear Lake, California.

Abell stops Nofire

Heavyweight Joey Abell stopped John Wesley Nofire in the third round of an eight-round co-feature bout.

Abell improves to 32-9 (30 KOs), while Nofire (19-1, 15 KOs) suffers his first loss as a pro.

While Abell had lost three of his previous five bouts, he was a significant step-up in opposition for Nofire, based on the opposition he has faced throughout his career.

The southpaw Abell landed repeatedly to the head of the taller Nofire, who is trained by Ronnie Shields. Abell dropped Nofire in the second round with a barrage of punches and dropped him twice more in the third round before referee Gary Miezwa stopped the bout at 2:12.

Shaw decisions Kelly

In the opening bout of the ‘Toe-to-Toe Tuesdays’ card, heavyweight Stephan Shaw (7-0, 5 KOs) won a six round unanimous decision over Danny Kelly.

All three judges scored the bout in favor of Shaw, 60-54 twice and 59-55.

Kelly falls to 9-3-1 (8 KOs).

Francisco A. Salazar has written for RingTV since October of 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper, BoxingScene.com and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at[email protected] or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing.