Especially considering how he obtained the belt in the first place.

When Oleksandr Usyk vacated his IBF, WBA and WBC heavyweight titles in June, Gassiev, who won the WBA secondary crown against Kubrat Pulev in December 2025, was elevated to full titleholder.

Gassiev’s status as the WBA’s lone champion ended Thursday, however, as the sanctioning body announced it will place its “super” title on the line for Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua on December 11 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

Miller, who is ranked No. 1 by the WBA, is still hoping to land a fight against Gassiev.

“He’s an email champion,” Miller told The Ring. “I'm a take that title off his hands real soon.”

The 32-year-old champion from Vladikavkaz, Russia, has acknowledged in the past that talks between his camp and Miller’s are ongoing.

In terms of momentum, Gassiev (34-2, 27 KOs) seemingly has the edge. Since losing to Otto Wallin by split decision in September 2023, The Ring’s ninth-ranked heavyweight has won four straight fights, all by stoppage.

Those wins haven’t impressed Brooklyn’s Miller, who’s on a two-fight win streak of his own, the latest coming against Lenier Pero via unanimous decision April 25 in Las Vegas. Miller sees Gassiev’s past as one of the main reasons why he’ll beat him.

Gassiev started his career as a cruiserweight in 2011. He won the IBF and WBA titles in that division before losing those straps to Usyk in a four-belt unification bout in 2018.

What’s also eye-catching to Miller is Gassiev’s level of opposition since moving up in 2020. He has beaten Kem Ljungquist, Jeremiah Milton, Pulev, and Peter Kadiru.

The combination of Gassiev once campaigning in a lower weight class, along with his relatively thin heavyweight resume, has Miller (28-1-2, 22 KOs) believing that if they do fight he’ll take care of business with relative ease.

“There’s nothing that I have to worry about with him,” Miller said. “He’s not a real heavyweight. To me, he’s still a cruiserweight. He’s also never been in there with a guy like me. I’m a big guy and my gas tank is tremendous. I'm a whoop his ass. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not overlooking the guy. I don’t overlook any fighter. But I just know when I’m at my best, these guys can’t beat me, Gassiev included.”