Bektemir Melikuziev Defeats Darius Fulghum by Unanimous Decision

The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas hosted a thrilling super middleweight clash as Uzbekistan’s Bektemir Melikuziev faced Houston’s Darius Fulghum in a 12-round WBA title eliminator, streamed live on DAZN. The intimate venue, packed with vocal fans chanting “DFG” for Fulghum and cheering for the Olympic silver medalist Melikuziev, created a charged atmosphere, with the winner earning a mandatory shot at Canelo Alvarez’s WBA super middleweight title. Melikuziev, entering at 15-1 (10 KOs), fought through a fractured nose and swollen eye from training camp injuries, while Fulghum, an undefeated 14-0 (12 KOs), aimed to cement his status as a rising star. Despite a point deduction for holding, Melikuziev’s late surge, capped by a critical 12th-round knockdown, secured a unanimous decision victory with scores of 114-112 from all three judges. The win moved Melikuziev to 16-1 (10 KOs), positioning him as a top contender, while Fulghum fell to 14-1 (12 KOs), his first professional loss marking a pivotal moment in his young career.

Melikuziev’s southpaw style and punishing body attack dictated the early rounds as he leveraged his amateur pedigree to outmanoeuvre Fulghum. His relentless left hands to the body and head, particularly in the third round, rocked Fulghum, briefly trapping him on the ropes as the crowd roared. Fulghum, a 6’1” former National Golden Gloves champion, countered with sharp jabs and right hands, using his three-inch height advantage to keep Melikuziev at bay in the fourth. CompuBox stats reveal a close contest, with Fulghum throwing 424 punches to Melikuziev’s 407, landing 83 jabs to Melikuziev’s 59 but trailing in power punches (91 vs 114). “I suffered a fractured nose in camp, but I fought through it,” Melikuziev explained post-fight, highlighting his resilience despite a bloody nose and swollen eye from an eighth-round head clash. A controversial point deduction in the seventh for holding disrupted his rhythm, but his ability to land precise counters kept him competitive against Fulghum’s growing momentum.

The middle rounds saw Fulghum find his footing, particularly in the sixth, where his bodywork and combinations earned him the frame on some scorecards. Melikuziev, however, responded with a vicious left hand in the eighth, snapping Fulghum’s head back and reasserting control. The ninth and tenth rounds were fiercely contested, with Fulghum landing a buckling right hand in the ninth, only for Melikuziev to counter with a rare right hook that drew smiles from ringside observers. A second warning for holding in the tenth tested Melikuziev’s discipline, but his late flurry, including a one-two that buckled Fulghum’s knees, swung the momentum back. The crowd’s energy surged with each exchange, their “DFG” chants fading as Melikuziev’s power shots landed.

The 12th round proved decisive, as Melikuziev’s heavy overhand left floored Fulghum early, a moment that sealed the fight on all scorecards.
Fulghum, showing heart, traded heavy blows and uppercuts, but Melikuziev’s relentless body attack and final flurry secured the 114-112 unanimous decision. “12th round knockdown the game changer for Bek The Bully.” The Theater at Virgin Hotels erupted as Melikuziev’s hand was raised, his victory a testament to his grit despite injuries and a point deduction. Fulghum’s performance, while valiant, exposed his relative inexperience, with only 53 professional rounds compared to Melikuziev’s 76. “This was a very tough fight,” Melikuziev said, acknowledging the challenge while celebrating his career-best win.

The fight’s stakes amplified its significance in the super middleweight division. As a WBA title eliminator, the victory positioned Melikuziev as the mandatory challenger for Canelo Alvarez’s belt. However, the path to a title shot remains uncertain, as Alvarez is scheduled to face Terence Crawford in September. “The winner becomes a mandatory threat”  in the crowded 168-pound landscape with contenders like Caleb Plant and Christian Mbilli. Melikuziev’s eight-fight win streak since his 2021 knockout loss to Gabriel Rosado showcased his growth, while Fulghum’s first defeat underscored the gap between his raw talent and elite-level seasoning.