TONIGHT– 2016 OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALIST BEKTIMIR MELIKUZIEV MAKES PRO DEBUT

STREAMING LIVE ON RINGTV.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/GOLDENBOY AT 8:00 P.M. ET/5:00 P.M. PT

 Photo Credit/Getty Images South America, 2016 Olympics

Hollywood, CA (June 13, 2019) Tonight in Hollywood, CA where stars have been made for decades, fans will see the launch of boxing’s most talked about prospect, 2016 Olympic Silver Medalist Bektimir Melikuziev of Uzbekistan. Now training in Indio, CA under the watchful eye of the renowned Joel Diaz, the 23-year-old Melikuziev will make his highly anticipated professional debut in the light heavyweight division against Argentinian veteran Martin Fidel Rios, (23-19-4, 13 KOs), in a scheduled six-round bout. On Wednesday afternoon, Melikuziev weighed in at 173lbs. while Rios tipped the scales at 166.6lbs. 

The fight will kick off the six-bout Golden Boy Promotions’ “Thursday Night Fights” event from the AVALON in Hollywood, CA and will be streamed LIVE at RingTV.com and Facebook.com/Goldenboy beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT. 

Promoted by World of Boxing and managed by the esteemed Vadim Kornilov, Melikuziev had an outstanding amateur career winning Gold at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games and the 2015 and 2017 Asian Championships. At the World Championships he was a Silver Medalist in 2015 and Bronze Medalist in 2017. He also had the honor at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero of being selected as the flag bearer for Uzbekistan at the Closing Ceremonies. Additionally, he was also voted ‘Best Boxer’ at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games and the 2015 Asian Championships. 

“Bektimir truly is an extraordinary fighter and we’re very excited for his pro debut tonight,” said Kornilov. “He’s been training in Indio with many of our other top boxers and he fits in perfectly with future world champions; Israil Madrimov, Murodjon Akhmadaliev, Shakhram Giyasov and Bakhodir Jalolov who were also outstanding amateurs from Uzbekistan. Joel Diaz said he’s never been around a fighter who punches harder.”