Bektemir Melikuziev needed a 12th round knockdown to squeak out a 12-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Darius Fulghum in a super middleweight elimination bout at The Virgin Hotel in Las Vegas.
In round two, Melikuziev began to bleed from his nose.
In round seven, Melikuziev was docked a point for holding. In round eight, Melikuziev’s left eye started to swell. Melikuziev rocked and hurt Fulghum several times in te later rounds. In round 10, Mellikuziev landed thudding body shots. Fulghum made a rally that was highlighted by a big straight right hand in round 11. In round 12, Melikuziev landed a body that was followed by a left hand that put Fulghum on the canvas.
The punch stat numbers showed how close the fight was as Fulghum landed 170 of 442 punches. Melikuziev was 169of 407.
That two point 12th round proved to be the difference as Melikuziev,166.8 lbs of Shoimbek, UZB won by scores of 114-112 on all cards and is now 16-1. Fulghum, 167.8 lbs of Houston is 14-1.
“We faced a lot of adversity during this camp, so this victory means a lot more—especially with my baby on the way,” said Melikuziev. “I want to thank Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya, and the Diaz Training Camp for the incredible support. I will face anyone and everyone. I’m not scared to face the likes of Caleb Plant or any of the top guys at super middleweight.
Eric Priest won a 10-round unanimous decision over Luis Arias in a middleweight fight.
In round two, Arias was deducted a point for hitting on the break.
Priest landed 184 of 471 punches. Arias was 133 of 494.
Priest, 159.8 lbs of Los Angeles won by scores of 99-90 twice and 96-93 and is now 16-0. Arias, 159.6 lbs of Milwaukee is 22-5-1.
Joshua Edwards stopped Alexander Rhodes in the opening round of their six-round heavyweight bout.
In round one, Edwards hurt Rhodes with two blistering right hands. Edwards followed that up with a flurry of rights that sent Rhodes down and the fight was stopped at 2:08.
Edwards, 222.4 lbs of Houston is 2-0 with two knockouts. Rhodes, 275.8 lbs of W.Columbia, SC is 2-2.
Federico Pacheco Jr. won a six-round unanimous decision over Calvin Barnett in a heavyweight bout
In round four, Barnett was deducted a point for holding.
Pacheco, 259.4 lbs of Los Angeles won by scores of 58-55 on all cards and is now 7-0. Barnett, 270.4 lbs of Tulsa, OK is 5-3.
Cayden Griffiths scored a one-punch knockout of Edgar Gutierrez in round four of their six-round super welterweight bout.
In round four,, Griffiths connected with a torking left hook to the chin that sent Gutierrez on the deck. Gutierrez got to his knee but did not want to beat the 10-count at 1:15.
Griffiths, 149 lbs of Indio, CA is now 5-0 with five knockouts. Gutierrez, 146.6 lbs of Yuma, AZ is 3-3.
