Bektemir "The Bully" Melikuziev to return on Vergil Ortiz card

"The Bully" is looking to regain some of his mojo.

The last time Bektemir Melukuziev was seen in the ring, he was taking a nap after getting clobbered by an overhand right by Gabriel Rosado in a third-round knockout. The 25-year-old southpaw, who hails from Uzbekistan but is based in Indio, California, will step into the ring for the first time in 2022, to face seasoned veteran David "La Pantera" Zegarra (34-7, 21 KOs), of Lima, Peru, in a 10-round light heavyweight contest as part of the DAZN stream, which will broadcast worldwide.

The opening bout of the broadcast will feature unbeaten welterweight Evan Sanchez (9-0, 6 KOs), of Parlier, California, who will square off against Columbia's Alejandro Munera (6-6-4, 5 KOs)

Unbeaten knockout artist Vergil Ortiz Jr. (18-0, 18 KOs) will headline against fellow undefeated 147-pounder, Great Britain's Michael "The Problem" McKinson (21-0, 2 KOs)

The chief support event of the evening will pit Orange County’s Alexis “Lex” Rocha (18-1, 12 KOs) against Philadelphia’s Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (15-0-1, 10 KOs) in a 10-round welterweight fight. The event will take place at the University of Southern California’s Galen Center in Downtown Los Angeles.

Part of the Golden Boy Fight Night live stream on the Golden Boy Boxing channel on YouTube, undefeated fighter, and fan favorite, Alex Rincon (9-0, 6 KOs) of Dallas, Texas, will face Puerto Rico’s Luis Sanchez (9-2, 6 KOs) in an eight-round super welterweight fight.

Also on the card, Los Angeles’ undefeated fighter John “Scrappy” Ramirez (8-0, 7 KOs) will fight Roberto “Escorpion” Pucheta (10-20-3, 6 KOa) of Jalisco, Mexico, in a scheduled six-round bantamweight bout. Other fights featured as part of the live stream include two four-round fights featuring prospects Miguel Gaona (1-0) of Los Angeles, CA, in a lightweight fight against Mexico City’s Gilberto Aguilar (0-4) and London’s Ramla Ali (4-0) in a junior featherweight fight against Toronto’s Shelly Barnett (5-6-2). The night will also include popular fighters Azat “Crazy A” Hovhannisyan (20-3, 16 KOs), Alejandro Reyes (6-0, 4KOs), and Dalis Kaleiopu (1-0, 1 KO), in bouts with opponents to be announced.