IN a division that is soon to be blown wide open, Bektemir Melikuziev and Darius Fulghum collide with the victor sure to be thrust into world title contention.
An Olympic silver medallist at Rio 2016, Melikuziev, 15-1 (10 KOs), was expected to rise quickly through the professional ranks. Still, a dramatic knockout defeat to Gabriel Rosado in his eighth contest halted his progress in 2021.
However, the Uzbek southpaw has since bounced back, eventually rematching Rosado in 2023 and claiming a wide unanimous decision, before knocking out Alantez Fox and scoring decision victories over Pierre Dibombe and David Stevens in an impressive four-fight streak.
This outing represents a first appearance of the year for ‘Bek The Bully’, currently positioned at #3 with the WBA and the 29-year-old, who holds amateur wins over Janibek Alimkhanuly and Christian Mbilli, enters the bout as an ever so slight favourite.
Meanwhile, Texas-born Darius Fulghum, 14-0 (12 KOs), is rated as the WBA #4 and will be confident ahead of the clash after a fourth-round knockout win against Winfred Harris Jr. back in February on the Duarte-Madueno card in Anaheim.
Fulghum was set to represent Team USA as a heavyweight at Tokyo 2020 until COVID-19 restrictions intervened and ‘DFG’ decided to turn professional the following year, debuting in the light-heavyweight division.
Yet, after seven fights at 175lbs, the undefeated American opted to move down to super-middleweight, and he has remained there since, whilst maintaining high activity, this being his eighth fight since dropping down to 168lbs in October 2023.
Proven as a tough operator that is not afraid of a scrap, the man who hands Fulghum a first career defeat will have to earn it through blood, sweat and tears and be able to handle the rough, up-close and physical approach of the 28-year-old.
BEKTEMIR MELIKUZIEV VS. DARIUS FULGHUM FIGHT PREDICTION
Boxing News believes Melikuziev will be the fighter who is comfortable enough dealing with those threats, favouring his well-renowned body work in the phone booth exchanges to counter Fulghum’s style and deter him from staying too close to the Uzbek.
With superior amateur pedigree and experience in the professional ranks, we envisage a unanimous-decision victory for Melikuziev, with Fulghum deemed too durable to be stopped inside the distance.
