UZBEKISTANI EX-AMATEUR STAR TURNS PRO UNDER THE RADAR

[Best Coast]

2016 Olympic Silver Medalist Bektemir Melikuziev of Uzbekistan won his pro debut on the undercard of a small club show in LA earlier this week. The two-time World Championship medalist stopped 46-bout veteran Martin Fidel Rios of Argentina with a body shot in the opening round. Melikuziev won the bronze medal at 178 pounds in the 2017 World Championships and the silver medal at 165 pounds in the 2015 World Championships.

[candyslim]

Another welcome addition to the scene to be sure.

[Best Coast]

Another welcome addition to the scene to be sure.

He is the 8th member of the Uzbekistani squad from the 2016 Olympics to turn pro so far. Good to see them flooding the pro ranks with so many talented fighters.

[ValMar]

He is the 8th member of the Uzbekistani squad from the 2016 Olympics to turn pro so far. Good to see them flooding the pro ranks with so many talented fighters.

[pound per pound]

The pipeline talent for light heavies increases, bu the #1 guy to watch might be young heavyweight Bakhodir Jalolov.

Another giant, but this one has really good speed, and skills with lights out type of power.

[locoxelbox]

Melikuziev was caught doping and was suspended for two years by AIBA. Like other doped amateur boxers before him, (Vitali Klitschko, Elio Rojas, Carlos Adames, Mikhail Aloyan, Arsene Fokou, etc) he decided to turn pro and there is no regulation to stop him.

[Best Coast]

The pipeline talent for light heavies increases, bu the #1 guy to watch might be young heavyweight Bakhodir Jalolov.

Another giant, but this one has really good speed, and skills with lights out type of power.

The success of the Uzbekistani 2016 Olympic squad in the pro ranks has been impressive. Out of a team of 10 fighters 8 have turned pro and 6 of them were Olympic medalists!!

Bektemir Melikuziev 1-0 Silver medalist
Murodjon Akhmedaliev 6-0 Bronze medalist
Shakhobidin Zoirov 2-0 Gold medalist
Rustam Tulaganov 1-0 Bronze medalist
Bakhodir Jalolov 6-0
Fazliddin Gaibnazarov 7-1 Gold medalist
Hurshid Toijbaev 2-0
Shakhram Giyasov 8-0 Silver medalist

Very few countries even had 8 guys qualify for the 2016 Olympics, let alone have that many turn pro.

[candyslim]

The pipeline talent for light heavies increases, bu the #1 guy to watch might be young heavyweight Bakhodir Jalolov.

Another giant, but this one has really good speed, and skills with lights out type of power.

Yes I'm looking forward to seeing a lot more of Jalolov. Did he meet Makhmudov in the ring when they were both top amateurs, anyone know?