Las Vegas: The world's fight capital witnessed a hard-fought battle on Friday night as Bektemir Melikuziev edged out Darius Fulghum in a dramatic super middleweight clash. Held at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on May 30, 2025, the 12-round bout ended unanimously in favor of Melikuziev, who improved his record to 16-1 with 10 knockouts.
The judges scored it 114-112 across the board, all in Melikuziev's favor. The Uzbek contender started strong, landing sharp left hands and punishing body shots in the early rounds that visibly troubled Fulghum. However, Melikuziev's momentum dipped in the middle rounds.
He began to fade by the fifth and was penalized for repeated holding in the seventh. Fulghum, now 14-1 with 12 KOs, applied consistent pressure and looked to capitalize on Melikuziev's fatigue, even bloodying his opponent's nose.
Despite appearing worn, Melikuziev rallied in the late rounds. He regained control with accurate jabs and corner pressure. A head clash in the eighth gave him a swollen cheek, but he pushed through.
The turning point came in the 12th round when a vicious body shot, followed by a powerful left to the head, sent Fulghum to the canvas. Though Fulghum recovered and finished strong, the knockdown sealed his fate.
This match was a WBA Super Middleweight Title Eliminator, yet neither fighter seemed ready to face elite-level opponents like Canelo Alvarez.
The bout was part of Golden Boy Fight Night, broadcast on DAZN, which included wins by Eric Priest, Santiago Dominguez, and others. The Melikuziev-Fulghum bout was a test of will, grit, and endurance, leaving fans with a night to remember.
