Gabriel Rosado vs Bektemir Melikuziev Preview April 22nd, 2023
Veteran Gabriel Rosado returns to the ring this Saturday, April 22nd as he faces Bektemir Melikuziev of Uzbekistan in a rematch. The 10-round super middleweight bout can be seen live on DAZN and Showtime PPV on the undercard of the Gervonta Davis vs Ryan Garcia tilt. Rosado upset Melikuziev in their first meeting in 2021 via a sensational third-round knockout for the vacant WBO International Super Middleweight Crown. Rosado last fought in September and dropped a 10-round unanimous decision to Ali Akhmedov a shot at the vacant IBF North American, and WBC Silver Super Middleweight Titles. Melikuziev last saw action in January when he stopped Ulises Sierra in the third round to capture the vacant WBO Global Super Middleweight Title.
**Watch live on DAZN this Saturday. Your first month is free.
Rosado vs Melikuziev Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Gabriel Rosado +700
- Bektemir Melikuziev -1250
My Pick
The 37-year-old Rosado carries a record of 26-16-1 with 15 Ko’s and has boxed 340 rounds since making his pro debut in 2006 following a short amateur career. He’s just shy of 6-feet tall and with a 71.5-inch. Rosado’s not really a powerful puncher despite his spectacular one-punch KO over Melikuziev in June, 2021, as his current knockout ratio is just 34.1 per cent. And even though he’s been stopped four times, Rosado is known to possess a pretty solid chin.
Rosado has taken on the likes of world middleweight champions Peter Quillin and Gennady Golovkin in the past with Quillin stopping him in the 10th round on cuts and Golovkin halting him in seven. Rosado has also been beaten by Alfredo Angulo by second-round TKO, Derek Ennis and Shane Mosley Jr by 10-round majority decisions; Fernando Guerrero and Joshua Onyango by eight-round unanimous decisions, Chris Gray by six-round unanimous decision, Jermell Charlo and Maciej Sulecki by 10-round unanimous decision and David Lemieux by 10th-round stoppage.
He also dropped a 12-round split decision to Daniel Jacobs, a 12-round majority decision to Martin Murray, 12-round unanimous decisions to Willie Monroe Jr and Jaime Munguia. He also lost a 10-round split-decision to J’Leon Love in 2013 but the result was changed to a no-contest after Love failed a drug test. Rosado’s lone draw was a 12-round affair with Luis Arias in 2018.
Rosado has lost his fair share of fights that’s for sure but has taken on some pretty tough customers along the way and was competitive against just about all of them. His biggest wins have been against Melikuziev, Glen Tapia, Sechew Powell, Jesus Soto-Karass, Saul Roman, and Kassim Ouma. Rosado is a tough customer, but doesn’t have much power and that’s why he’s usually fallen short when stepping up in class. He has a lot of energy and heart and that’s what makes him a fan-friendly boxer.
Along the way, Rosado has captured the vacant WBO International Super Middleweight Title with his win over Melikuziev in 2021 and the vacant WBO Inter-Continental Belt with his win over Sechew Powell in 2012. He also captured the Pennsylvania State Super Welterweight crown in 2011 with a victory over Keenan Collins. Rosado will be moving up to light heavyweight for the first time with this fight.
The 27-year-old Melikuziev, who now fights out of California, is a southpaw who enters the ring with an impressive record of 11-1 with 9 Ko’s with his lone loss coming to Rosado and that’s why he’d like to avenge it. He stands just over 5-feet-9-inches tall with a 70.5-inch reach which gives him a two-inch height and one-inch reach disadvantage against Rosado. Melikuziev made his pro debut in 2019 and has fought just 42 rounds since.
Melikuziev enjoyed a fine amateur career and made it to the final of the 2015 AIBA World Championships and to the semifinals in 2017. He also fought in the World Series of Boxing, won a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil as a middleweight, won gold at the 2015 and 2017 Asian Championships as a middleweight and light-heavyweight respectively and took gold at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games as a welterweight.
Melikuziev possesses quite a bit of power in his fists with a current knockout ratio of 75 per cent. He’s won his last three fights by stoppage and has four victories in a row since losing to Rosado. Since turning pro he’s also won the vacant WBO Inter-Continental Super Middleweight Title. His biggest wins have come against Clay Collard, Vaughn Alexander, Oscar Cortes, Alan Campa, David Zegarra and Sergei Ekimov.
Prediction…
Rosado was supposed to fight Gilberto Ramirez at light heavyweight a few weeks ago but Ramirez came in way over weight and the fight was scrapped. He’s now out to prove that his KO over Melikuziev was no fluke while Melikuziev of course is out to prove he was nailed by a lucky shot. Rosado gives it his all in every fight but I think with Melikuziev being 10 years younger and with something to prove, he’ll avenge the loss. Rosado also enters the contest with three straight defeats since beating Melikuziev, albeit to good boxers in Jaime Munguia, Shane Mosley Jr and Ali Akhmedov. Lightning could strike twice on Melikuziev if he’s not careful on Saturday, but I’m expecting him to pull out a win.
Melikuziev’s power, natural aggression and motivation should be the difference.
Play: Melikuziev -1250 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Bektemir Melikuziev betting • Gabriel Rosado betting