Bektemir Melikuziev's Title-Fight Aspirations Furthered with Stoppage Victory
LAS VEGAS – Bektemir Melikuziev is among the herd of super middleweights seeking to declare they are ready to supplant the retired Terence Crawford and injury-sidelined Saul "Canelo" Alvarez after their undisputed reigns. His recent seventh-round TKO over Ghana's Sena Agbeko is a significant step in the right direction.
Agbeko, with a record of 29-5 (23 KOs), was first knocked down by a left flush to his face after being rocked by a combination. The action resumed briefly, and Melikuziev delivered another jarring left straight to the nose, resulting in the TKO with two seconds remaining. Melikuziev, with a record of 17-1 (11 KOs), expressed his aspirations, stating, "I hope this is one more step closer to what I want: a championship fight. I'm always ready for the best fights. I'm knocking on the door, I'm begging. And whoever wins that next WBA [title] fight, I get him."
Melikuziev's WBA ranking places him as the second-ranked 168lbs fighter, below titleholder Jose Armando Resendiz and former titlist Canelo Alvarez. Alvarez is set to face Christian Mbilli in a September WBC title fight in Saudi Arabia. Resendiz is in negotiations with former title challenger Jaime Munguia, and Jermall Charlo is also a potential opponent.
Melikuziev's performance against Agbeko showcased his ability to stagger his opponent with lefts to the head in the third round. However, he also suffered a gash at the right eyebrow from the bout's second clash of heads, which affected him until the fifth round. Despite this, Melikuziev's activity didn't diminish, as he landed jabs and power lefts through the guard. Repeated combinations in the sixth round had Agbeko on shaky legs, demonstrating Melikuziev's resilience and determination.
"Very happy to be in the ring, very grateful to be in this position. I was prepared," Melikuziev said after the fight.
In other matches, promising middleweight Amari Jones, a 23-year-old from Oakland, showcased his class by knocking down Luis Arias twice before his corner stopped the fight after four rounds, moving Jones to 16-0 (14 KOs). Arias, who has fought notable opponents, was backed by Jones' body shots in the first round. Jones' impressive performance included ducking a power punch and pounding a power left to the jaw, raising promoter Oscar De La Hoya from his ringside seat.
Heavyweight Joshua Edwards, a 2024 U.S. Olympian, cruised to a unanimous decision victory, but his knockout streak was stopped at five fights by Canada's Brandon Colantonio in the opener. Edwards, who debuted in April, won 60-54 on all three scorecards, with Colantonio avoiding heavy engagement beyond a few landed rights. Former heavyweight title challenger Gerry Cooney visited Edwards in his dressing room, offering advice to "move his head" and stay loose.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia's junior lightweight Mohammed Alakel stopped David Calabro at 2:27 of the second round, improving to 8-0. Trained by Abel Sanchez, Alakel set up an earlier second-round knockdown with a body shot, followed by a combination. After Calabro hit the deck, a finishing left to the rib cage saw him crash for good. Alakel expressed his growing comfort in the ring, stating, "Feeling more comfortable every time I step in the ring. Staying active will help me reach the top. [Sanchez] is the best in the business."
