Bektemir Melikuziev
Bek The Bully
Bio
Bektemir Melikuziev is the Uzbek southpaw who has spent the last year fighting the WBA as much as anybody in the ring. A 2016 Olympic silver medallist, he is 17-1 with 11 knockouts and the governing body's mandatory challenger at 168lbs.
He earned that position with a hard-fought points win in May 2025, but has boxed only once in the sixteen months since — a seventh-round stoppage in February 2026. That is what happens to fighters with his style and without a big fanbase: nobody wants them.
Make no mistake, he can punch. The straight left hand is the weapon and he loves to dig hooks into the body. The flaw is that he comes forward with real intent, and back in 2021 he was knocked out by a single counter right hand when he rushed in carelessly.
In September 2026 the WBA finally ordered champion Jaime Munguia to face him, ruling that Munguia's voluntary window had closed on August 30. The deadline to agree terms is October 21.
Right then — if he gets Munguia in the ring, I fancy him. If you know, you know.