Super middleweight Bektemir Melikuziev avoided disaster with a 12-round split decision win over David Stevens on Saturday at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.
The judges scored it 116-112 for Stevens, 118-110 and 117-111 for Melikuziev.
Melikuziev, 28, entered the ring wearing a sombrero and initially walked out to Mexican music, signaling confidence in what one might perceive as a coronation fight. Although he suffered a knockout loss to Gabriel Rosado three years ago, he has since secured seven wins and avenged that defeat.
The bout began cautiously, with Stevens, 24, setting the pace early. Melikuziev responded with hard left hands as the first round progressed, using movement to establish control. By the third round, Stevens’ punches had bloodied Melikuziev’s nose. More blood flowed from the nose by the fifth, and a cut was also opened over Melikuziev’s left eye, which could have been old scar tissue reopening, reminiscent of his April win over Pierre Hubert Dibombe.
Both fighters started to show fatigue by the sixth round. Stevens landed body shots that slowed Melikuziev’s momentum, forcing him to hold more in the seventh. Melikuziev’s form showed signs of breaking down as he tired, though he still landed left hands, which led him to victory. Stevens pressed forward, seeking the biggest win of his career, but he waited too much.
In the eighth, Melikuziev regained his composure and controlled the action with his hands at his hips, reminiscent of a gunslinger. The exchanges were grueling, with both fighters trading body shots. While Stevens found success with counters, Melikuziev’s left hand landed consistently, though lacked its earlier snap. Blood and swelling marked Melikuziev’s face by the ninth round as he focused on banking rounds, while Stevens looked for a knockout shot.
Trainer Antonio Diaz urged Melikuziev to push through the championship rounds. In the 10th and 11th, Melikuziev took control, outboxing Stevens and finding a rhythm. He finished strong, landing his left hand until the final bell.
With the win, Melikuziev improved to 15-1 (10 KOs), while Stevens dropped to 14-2 (10 KOs).
Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.
Read the full article here
