Gassiev beats Lebedev for IBF cruiserweight belt

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:40 p.m. ET

foxsports

MOSCOW (AP) Murat Gassiev dominated Denis Lebedev to win the IBF cruiserweight title on Saturday on a split decision.

Gassiev knocked down Lebedev in the fifth round with a hook to the body but the defending champion came back strongly late on as the 23-year-old Gassiev tired.

Gassiev won 116-112 and 116-111 on two scorecards, while 37-year-old veteran Lebedev took the third 114-113.

Lebedev remains the WBA champion at cruiserweight because the fight was only recognized as being for the IBF version of the title.

Earlier, Namibia's Julius Indongo won the IBF light welterweight title by knocking out the reigning champion and heavy favorite, Russian Eduard Troyanovsky, with a fierce left hook 40 seconds into the fight.

Troyanovsky, who was previously unbeaten, needed medical attention but appeared not to be seriously hurt.