Previously unified Lebedev lost only his IBF version to his Russian rival last week as the WBA failed to sanction the bout and Kornilov immediately offered to put the World Boxing Association belt up in a rematch next year.
“A special permit request was filed and approved by the WBA for Dennis to participate in the bout with Gassiev as a non-title bout with the WBA,” Kornilov exclusively told World Boxing News.
“Denis is a still champion and will follow all of the WBA regulations to perform his mandatory defense next.
“There was no rematch clause in the fight because Gassiev was the IBF mandatory and his representatives did not agree to a rematch even if we were to voluntarily put the WBA title on the line.
“As of now, Lebedev will move on and there are no specific plans yet.”
On Lebedev’s spell receiving treatment after the fight, Kornilov added: “Denis has already gone home. He is great and has no real problems.
“He only went to the hospital for recovery and recuperation after the fight which we do every time and it’s something I think all fighters should do after a hard twelve round fight.
“The only problem Denis had is a hand fracture,” he confirmed.
As Gassiev moves on to a first defense, potentially in the United States, Lebedev will now be given mandatory duties to undertake with the WBA, with Yunier Doriticos currently ranked number one.
