Munguia's mandatory challenger Bek Melikuziev knocks out Karomatullo Sharipov in Dubai
The Uzbek is waiting on his shot at Jaime Munguia's WBA super middleweight title, and Chris Mannix has said the two sides have come to terms.
Post by @ringmagazine on X
Bek Melikuziev knocked out Karomatullo Sharipov in Dubai on Friday, keeping busy while he waits for his shot at Jaime Munguia's WBA super middleweight title. The Ring called it a "vicious knockout".
The Uzbek, 30, is the WBA's mandatory challenger for Munguia's belt. Munguia made a voluntary defence first, coming through trouble to beat Nikita Zon by unanimous decision in Riyadh on 31 October.
"I don't think he's going to give up his belt, and everything I've been told [is] that they've come to terms on the fight," Chris Mannix said on his channel. He gave no date for the fight.
Sharipov, an inexperienced Tajik, was a clear step down for Melikuziev, who had not fought since stopping Sena Agbeko in the seventh round in Las Vegas in February.
Melikuziev won Olympic silver at middleweight at Rio 2016. His only professional defeat came in 2021, when Gabriel Rosado knocked him out in the third round, and he beat Rosado in a rematch two years later.
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