Bektemir Melikuziev Drops Darius Fulghum Late to Win WBA
Bektemir “Bek” Melikuziev defeated previously unbeaten Darius Fulghum by unanimous decision in a 12-round WBA super middleweight title eliminator on May 30, 2025. The fight headlined Golden Boy Fight Night at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. All three judges scored it 114-112 for Melikuziev, whose knockdown in the final round helped settle a close contest.
Melikuziev builds pressure as Fulghum answers
The Uzbek southpaw pressed forward behind combinations and body punches, trying to make the fight physical. Fulghum, a Houston native who entered with an undefeated record, answered with counters and body shots of his own. The exchanges kept the fight competitive and forced Melikuziev to work through the full distance rather than rely on an early finish.
The bout changed in the fourth round when a clean Fulghum punch opened a cut over Melikuziev’s left eye. Melikuziev continued, but the injury added urgency to his attack. In the seventh, referee Celestino Ruiz deducted a point from Melikuziev for excessive holding. That penalty narrowed the margin and gave Fulghum a chance to swing the momentum.
A 12th-round knockdown proves decisive
Melikuziev stayed composed and scored a knockdown in the final round. That late moment proved decisive on the scorecards: each judge had him ahead by two points, 114-112. The official result was a unanimous decision after 12 rounds, not a knockout or stoppage. Fulghum had his first professional loss, while Melikuziev added a significant win to his super middleweight record.
The fight was a WBA title eliminator, so the victory strengthened Melikuziev’s position in the organization’s 168-pound title picture. It did not, by itself, mean that a mandatory title challenge was immediately scheduled. The result instead marked an important step for the Uzbek contender after a demanding fight against a previously unbeaten opponent. Golden Boy promoted the event, which was carried on DAZN.
Official result
Bektemir Melikuziev def. Darius Fulghum by unanimous decision (114-112, 114-112, 114-112), 12 rounds, WBA super middleweight title eliminator, May 30, 2025, Las Vegas.
Sources
Tags: MMA
