Bektemir Melikuziev is quickly reasserting himself as a serious threat in the super middleweight division.

The Uzbek contender delivered one of his most memorable finishes at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, stopping Sena Agbeko with just one second left in the seventh round on the Barrios vs. Garcia card, improving his record to 17-1 with 11 knockouts. The dramatic win followed a high-intensity WBA title eliminator against then-unbeaten Darius Fulghum, a competitive clash that earned praise as a potential Fight of the Year candidate.

Melikuziev’s recent success also includes a key redemption moment. In April 2023, he avenged the only loss of his career by defeating veteran Gabriel Rosado via unanimous decision, showcasing improved discipline and ring maturity after suffering a knockout defeat in their first meeting in 2021.

Since turning professional in 2019 with Golden Boy Promotions, Melikuziev has become known for his fan-friendly style, combining a southpaw stance with relentless pressure and a damaging body attack. Prior to his professional career, he built an impressive amateur resume, capturing silver medals at the 2015 AIBA World Championships and the 2016 Summer Olympics while representing Uzbekistan.

Training in Indio, California under Joel and Antonio Diaz, “Bek the Bully” continues to evolve as he works toward a world title shot, positioning himself as a serious threat in the super middleweight division.