Melikuziev vs Fulghum Fight Results: Melikuziev Scores UD In A War

The opening round was the battle for foot positioning as the southpaw Melikuziev was trying to jab his way in so he could land the big left hook. Fulghum, in the conventional stance, was patient and used his left jab to gauge distance. There weren’t too many big spots throughout the round.

Melikuziev stepped on the gas in the second round as he landed some hard straight lefts, which had Fulghum moving backward. Although there were opportunities to do more, Melikuziev decided to hold back as he did not want to get caught coming in. In the third round, Melikuziev had Fulghum hurt as the body shots and the straight lefts from Melikuziev began to add up. Again, Melikuziev was patient and did not overcommit, but Fulghum was definitely there for the taking.

Fulghum came back in the fourth round with a good right hook that buzzed Melikuziev as he made a facial expression to acknowledge that it was a good punch. Melikuziev did land some clean straight lefts, but it was more of a Fulghum round.

The fifth round was a close one as the first half saw Fulghum busting up Melikuziev with uppercuts that left his nose bleeding. Then Melikuziev came back and landed four consecutive straight lefts that hurt Fulghum toward the end of the round.

Another good back and fourth round in the sixth, but in the seventh round, the referee took a point from Melikuziev for holding. Fulghum controlled most of the round, but in the final seconds, he was caught with a straight left hand by Melikuziev.

The eighth round was again back and forth, but in the ninth, both fighters were hurt, and neither man could capitalize off of having their opponent compromised.

In the tenth round, Melikuziev landed a hard left hand that nearly folded Fulghum, but somehow, he was able to not fall to the canvas. Fulghum was hurt badly towards the end of the round. The 11^th was again back and forth, but at the beginning of the 12^th, Melikuziev landed a hard left hook that sent Fulghum down to the canvas for the first time in his career. Fulghum would hear the final bell but would not get the decision victory.

Undercard Results

Middleweight prospect Eric Priest (16-0, 8 KOs) scored a one-way unanimous decision over Luis Arias (22-5-1, 11 KOs) as part of the co-main on the Golden Boy Fight Night card. The judges saw this one 99-90, 96-93, and 99-90 for Priest, who remains undefeated.

Heavyweight Joshua Edwards (2-0, 2 KOs) scores a first-round knockout over Alexander Rhodes (2-1, 1 KO) to pick up his second pro victory.

Heavyweight Federico Pacheco Jr. (9-0, 6 KOs) scored a unanimous decision over Calvin Barnett (5-3, 2 KOs). All three judges saw this on 58-55 for Pacheco, who picks up his ninth win.

Junior middleweight Cayden Griffiths (5-0, 5 KOs) scored a vicious one-punch fourth-round knockout over Edgar Gutierrez (3-3, 2 KOs) to open up the DAZN telecast.