Undefeated Houston native Darius Fulghum faces 2016 Olympic silver medalist Bektemir Melikuziev in a make-or-break WBA super middleweight eliminator this Friday, May 30 at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, streaming live on DAZN at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT / 2:00 a.m. UK.
If you’ve never heard of Fulghum, you’re not alone — but if he beats Melikuziev, he forces himself into the Canelo sweepstakes whether fans like it or not.
Fighters speak ahead of May 30 eliminator
“There is going to be separation in the super middleweight division,” Fulghum said, noting Caleb Plant fights the day after him. “Canelo holds all the cards.” He’s not wrong — Alvarez, who just beat William Scull, has four mandatory defenses looming if he doesn’t retire after the Crawford fight in September.
Melikuziev, meanwhile, barely scraped past David Stevens last time out, and now has to hold off a surging Fulghum who’s stopped 12 of his 14 opponents. This isn’t a cash grab or stay-busy gig — this is do-or-die territory in a division waiting for a power shift.
Fulghum’s road here has been anything but traditional. The former National Golden Gloves champ earned a nursing degree while stacking knockouts during COVID. Melikuziev was a decorated Olympian with backing — Fulghum built his résumé fighting under the radar.
Now they meet with the WBA eliminator on the line and the Canelo waiting room starting to get overcrowded.
Stakes, chaos, and what happens next
The winner becomes a mandatory threat, at worst a top-five pain in the ass for whoever survives Canelo’s politics. No. 1 Christian Mbilli is set to face Maciej Sulecki for the vacant WBC title. No. 2 Lester Martinez has hype but little depth. Caleb Plant might lose to Resendiz. This is Fulghum and Melikuziev’s chance to skip the line.
And don’t forget: Fulghum works with the same management group backing Zurdo Ramirez and Oleksandr Gvozdyk. This isn’t some clueless regional hopeful — this is a guy with a system, a plan, and a real case for title contention.
If Fulghum wins? He either forces a mandatory or calls the bluff on everyone ranked ahead of him. If Melikuziev wins? He just barely keeps pace and stays relevant in a thinning top-10.
This isn’t hype. This is blood business at 168 pounds.
Where to Watch
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Streaming live on DAZN
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Available globally in over 200 countries
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Subscriptions: $19.99/month (US), £14.99/month (UK), annual options available
Time Zones
Event Info
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Date: Friday, May 30, 2025
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Venue: Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada
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Streaming: LIVE on DAZN
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Tickets: Check AXS.com for availability
Full Fight Card
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Darius Fulghum vs. Bektemir Melikuziev, 12 rounds, super middleweights (WBA eliminator)
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Eric Priest vs. Luis Arias, 10 rounds, middleweights
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Federico Pacheco Jr vs. Calvin Barnett, 6 rounds, heavyweights
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Santiago Dominguez vs. John Vincent Moralde, 8 rounds, welterweights
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Daniel Garcia vs. Camilo Rodriguez, 6 rounds, lightweights
Last Updated on 05/28/2025
