After the fight: How Gabriel Rosado bullied Bektemir Melikuziev

Saturday, June 19, was filled with boxing, but Gabriel Rosado pulled off a stunning upset against Bek ‘The Bully’  Melikuziev using his mind. 

Gabriel Rosado has gained more respect in boxing than most sporting double-digit losses on their record. On Saturday, June 19, ‘King’ Rosado once again proved his value in boxing supersedes his record and any of the figures in the wins or losses column.

Before their Saturday, June 19, meeting at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, TX, Bektemir Melikuziev, better known as Bek ‘The Bully,’ was seen as a fast riser in the super middleweight division.

Melikuziev (7-1. 6 KOs) is one of many young fighters from Uzbekistan who came to the U.S. to train as they entered the professional boxing ranks after eye-catching amateur careers. Indio, Ca, is the common destination for several of these Uzbek boxers under the guidance of Joel Diaz.

Melikuziev placed high in many world amateur boxing tournaments, including winning a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. In two years as a pro, Melikuziev won six out of seven contests by knockout before fighting Rosado. He was the odds on favorite to beat Rosado, and continued success could have materialized into an early title shot considering the hype and pedigree surrounding Melikuziev.

Melikuziev still has the potential to be a future world champion, but a title shot will take longer than expected after Rosado knocked him out in three rounds.

At 25 years old, Melikuziev is young. Experience as an amateur is great, but it’s not a substitute for professional practice. Rosado is the inverse of Melikuziev in numerous ways. He lacked an amateur background but has used his professional experience to compensate. He has 13 losses on his record, but they’ve allowed him continued improvement up through the age of 35.

Gabriel Rosado proved against Bektemir Melikuziev that a wise veteran boxer is always dangerous

As an older veteran, Rosado is three times the boxer today than he was 10 years ago. Melikuziev is more physically talented, but Rosado proved to be the wiser fighter. Melikuziev dropped Rosado at the end of round 1 using his right hook to the body and head, but Rosado took a knee and used eight seconds of the count to recuperate before popping up to hear the ending bell.

Rosado (26-13-1, 15 KOs) was hurt but calm. He never panicked and bought himself some time. As the fight went on, Melikuziev grew overconfident, while Rosado tested him for stress fractures in his boxing skillset. Quickly, Rosado discovered Melikuziev’s flaws.

In round 2, Rosado started to time Melikuziev with counter right hands. Melikuziev was comfortable in the fight and started to slip into predictable patterns. He would bounce up and down twice on the balls of his feet, then leap forward with a half-hearted right jab followed by either a left to the head or body.

Melikuziev abandoned his lead right hooks, which were so effective in round 1. He thought he could take Rosado out with a looping left hand, but he went to the well too many times, and Rosado picked up on his tell.

It didn’t help that Melikuziev’s practiced lazy fundamentals. He dropped his hands and carried them around his waist. Melikuziev is powerful, but he’s not a lightning-fast puncher or elusive on defense. His punches are slower sledgehammers, but he thought he was Roy Jones Jr. Melikuziev was arrogant, which hurt him in round 3.

Rosado strategically gave up ground and waited for the perfect time to put everything on a right hand to Melikuziev’s head. Melikuziev continued his pattern—hop, hop, right and left hands. He tried to include some feints, but Rosado knew what was coming next. Melikuziev telegraphed the combination nearly a dozen times before.

Melikuziev came in to throw that same combination, but Rosado timed him perfectly with a counter right that knocked him senseless, and the fight was over.

Melikuziev won a silver medal for a reason. He is tremendously skilled and powerful, but a lack of professional experience and hubris spelled defeat for the bully. His career is far from over, and if he’s bright, Melikuziev could learn volumes from his loss to Rosado.

This should be the second biggest win of Rosado’s career, but unfortunately, his past reputation as an opponent unfairly biased judges in awarding a decision to Daniel Jacobs in his previous contest.

Rosado doesn’t always win, but he does learn and get better. That’s what a smart fighter does. Hopefully, Melikuziev internalized that lesson from Rosado. He needs to if he wants to realize his potential.