When you look at the Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia undercard, which one fight is the hardest to call? You can bestow that distinction on Bektemir Melikuziev and Pierre Dibombe as they clash on April 20 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The stakes? ‘Bek Bully’s WBA Intercontinental super middleweight belt.

The contest holds the key to both boxers’ title aspirations. While Melikuziev is the current intercontinental super middleweight champion and a win will inch him closer to the top, Dibombe will enter the rankings and have his first taste of gold. But who is running ahead when their resumes are pitted against each other?

Bektemir Melikuziev vs. Pierre Dibombe: Tale of the tape

At 28, Melikuziev is the younger of the two boxers, and he enters the squared circle with an impressive record of 13-1. However, it’s his power that has turned heads, as he has managed to rack up 10 of those 13 wins by knockouts and has a splendid 77% KO ratio. He also stands tall at 5’9″ and a half (177cm) and has a reach of 177 cm.

Meanwhile, Bibombe, at 32, is the older of the boxers but also has more fights under his belt. He has fought 23 fights, winning 22 and drawing one. But only 12 of those have come through knockouts and thus trail behind Melikuziev with a KO ratio of 55%. He is also the shorter of the two, at 5’9″ (175cm), though only marginally. Both boxers have fought at 168 pounds, but Melikuziev comes in heavier at 167.5 lbs (76.0 kg) compared to Dibombe’s weight of 167.0 lbs (75.7 kg) in their last bouts. Additionally, it is a typical southpaw vs. orthodox contest, as Melikuziev fights out of the southpaw stance, while Dibombe is an orthodox fighter.

Recent exploits and the form of Melikuziev and Dibombe

Notably, Melikuziev is ranked #4 by the WBA, 13th by the WBC, and 7th by the WBO at super middleweight. His exploits in boxing go back to 2015 when he bagged a silver medal at the 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championship. He would then build on the momentum and clinch a silver at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Subsequently, the Uzbek boxer burst onto the pro scene in 2019.

Moreover, Melikuziev is coming off a fourth-round KO win against Alantez Fox and is currently on a 6-win streak. His only loss came against Gabriel Rosado, a fight which he threw away after dominating in the initial rounds. But he would soon avenge his loss last April.

On the other hand, Dibombe looks to bolster his undefeated ledger and wants to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the prominent names of the 168-pound division. Before venturing into boxing, the French fighter was a taekwondo practitioner and had collected gold at the national level. However, he became a pro in 2014 and would soon win tournaments and also become a WBA Intercontinental and then an EU champion. While he harbors intentions to become a world champion by 2026, he needs to depose Melikuziev first. Can he do it?

Prediction: Who wins it?

What separates Melikuziev from the rest? He is aggressive and a strong southpaw. His carnage and violent fighting style have made him popular and earned accolades. However, he also paid the price for being reckless, as seen in his first fight with Rosado. So, there will always be pockets open for the more experienced Dibombe to exploit.

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Is Dibombe calculated and patient enough to implement a wait-and-watch tactic while feeling the brunt of the hard punches? It might happen. It has happened in the past. But if he doesn’t take those openings, he might be in trouble and might lie face-flat on the canvas. In the end, Melikuziev’s power might prove too much for Dibombe to handle. Melikuziev wins it, and the extent of his victory depends on how effectively Dibombe neutralizes his opponent’s power punches.

What do you make of this exciting match between Bektemir Melikuziev and Pierre Dibombe? Who do you think wins the bout? Let us know in the comments below.

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