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2016 Olympic silver medalist and two-time world amateur medalist Bektemir “The Bully” Melikuziev has signed a co-promotional deal with Golden Boy Promotions and Andrey Ryabinsky’s Wold of Boxing. The 23-year-old Uzbek, who has fought thrice in the last five months, will have his next fight announced “shortly.”
“I am looking forward to a long and successful career working together with World of Boxing and Golden Boy,” said Melikuziev. “It’s a pleasure for me to have such a professional team! I have watched many of these great fights on TV and dreamt of one day becoming someone like the boxers that fight in the U.S. Now I have this chance, and I will take full advantage of this opportunity! Don’t blink, every one of my fights will be a performance not to miss!”
Melikuziev (3-0, 3 KO) has thus far enjoyed the professional success you’d expect out of someone with his amateur pedigree. After mauling his first two opponents in a round apiece, including a rapid beatdown of well-traveled veteran Adrian Luna, he was forced to go four against UFC veteran Clay Collard on the Canelo-Kovalev undercard, ultimately landing his third consecutive body shot finish.
Though he’s thus far competed in the pros at 175 pounds, the press release states that he intends to campaign at 168, which is probably a better fit for his 5’9.5” frame.
Young, talented, exciting, and merciless are definitely a good set of adjectives for a prospect to have. We likely won’t have to wait long to see him against top competition; he’s already been booked for eight rounds and expressed a willingness to go 10. With two powerhouse promoters and a stellar trainer in Joel Diaz who speaks extremely highly of him, you’ll want to keep your eyes on this kid.