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German veteran Erkan Teper is a good opponent for former world champion Murat Gassiev at this stage of his career, according to the Russian boxer’s coach Vitaly Slanov.
The fight between Gassiev and Teper is scheduled to take place on July 22 at the Dynamo Arena in Moscow.
Gassiev, a former WBA and IBF cruiserweight champion, has a record of 27 wins and one loss.
In his last fight, which took place in October of last year, the 27-year-old fighter made his heavyweight debut and knocked out Nuri Seferi in the first round.
On record of the 39-year-old Teper, there are 21 victories (13 by knockout) with three defeats. The German defeated opponents such as David Price and Johann Duhaupas, but lost to Robert Helenius, Mariusz Wach and Christian Hammer.
Slanov revealed that the original opponent was Kevin Johnson, but the promoters felt Teper was a better foe at this stage.
“There was a change: Kevin Johnson was changed to Teper. We took the decision calmly, without unnecessary emotions,” Slanov told Vasily Konov.
“He’s boxed with good opponents, although he is still a little aged. But he is an active fighter. And our sparring partners who worked with him tell us that he is a decent opponent. But in general we do not choose opponents. At first we were told about the meeting with Kevin Johnson, and then they told us that Teper is better. And we react as follows: ‘whomever we are put in with, we are put in with.’ In general, Teper is a good opponent at this stage.
“But in the future, the level of opposition will need to be more complicated. However, let’s not look ahead of our upcoming opponent, because right now we are fully focused on July 22. Any opponent in the heavyweight division is dangerous. He is definitely stronger than Seferi.”