LAS VEGAS – Bektemir Melikuziev literally went the extra mile to make sure nothing disrupted his most important pro fight to date.
The 2016 Olympic silver medalist had to ask for a towel as he stripped down to his birthday suit during Thursday’s pre-fight weigh-in. He was still 0.2lbs over the super-middleweight limit but easily made weight less than an hour later.
There was a brief scare when his team once again requested a towel; this time it was to wipe down the sweat he accumulated while briskly moving outside Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, which will host his WBA super-middleweight title eliminator against Darius Fulghum, 14-0 (12 KOs), on Friday.
Uzbekistan’s Melikuziev, 15-1 (10 KOs), went well above and beyond the call of duty to make weight. He was all smiles during his second trip to the scales and let out a hearty laugh when the Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Jeffrey Mullen belted out “166.8” – more than a pound under the limit.
“I only needed to lose a little,” Melikuziev quipped in perfect English to his immediate team.
Melikuziev-Fulghum will headline a DAZN show beginning at 6pm local time from Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. The winner will become the leading contender to the WBA super middleweight title.
The full version of the belt is held by Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, 63-2-2 (39 KOs), the recognized lineal and undisputed champion. There is also the interim WBA title, held by Caleb Plant, 23-2 (14 KOs), who defends one night later against Armando Resendiz, 15-2 (11 KOs), at the nearby Michelob ULTRA Arena.
Melikuziev punched his way back into contention after a knockout loss in June 2021 to Gabriel Rosado in just his eighth pro fight. The Uzbek southpaw was up early – including an opening-round knockdown – before his veteran opponent turned the tables in stunning fashion.
Eight wins have followed – including a revenge-fueled 10-round decision over Philadelphia’s Rosado in their rematch in April 2023 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. All 16 bouts for Melikuziev have come against opposition with as much or more in-ring experience than he, because the plan was to be moved at a brisk pace since his pro debut in June 2019.
“I turned professional ready to face the best,” Melikuziev told BoxingScene. “We took tough fights early in my career to prepare more for this stage.”
Golden Boy Promotions, Melikuziev’s co-promoter along with World of Boxing, further guided the 29-year-old southpaw down this path with his past two wins.
Melizukiev defeated the unbeaten French contender Pierre Hubert Dibombe via technical decision in April in Brooklyn, New York. That win was followed up with a split-decision victory over David Stevens in their semi-final title eliminator in November, also at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
Fulghum is the first of Melikuziev’s opponent with fewer pro fights. However, the 28 year old is perfect as a pro and is entering his physical prime.
Oddsmakers view the match-up as a virtual toss-up. DraftKings has both fighters at -110, while Melikuziev is a marginal underdog according to bet365, which lists Fulghum as a -105 favorite.
That perception sits well with Melikuziev, who has already disproved the doubters with his impressive run after his lone career defeat.
“I am very confident in beating [Fulghum] and going on to fight for the world title,” Melikuziev insisted.