By: Sean Crose
Renowned 26-16-1 veteran player Gabriel Rosado put on gloves again Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to face Bektemir Melikuziev 11-1 for the second time. The first time the two met, Rosado took her man out. Now, nearly two years later, on the pay-per-view card of super fighter Gervonta Davis-Ryan Garcia, 37-year-old Rosado is looking to impress again. The match is scheduled for the 10th in the super-middle class.
The opening round was slow, with each man essentially feeling the other was out. The second inning was also slow, as Rosado couldn’t seem to find his range successfully. Round three is essentially more similar. Every fighter cares about not messing up so nothing happens. By the fourth time, Melikuziev’s left began to find a home. However, the war remained largely fruitless. The fifth offers more of the same, except for a Melikuziev’ that causes Rosado to wobble for a short time. Friday, too, doesn’t bring much excitement.
Melikuziev threw the ball effectively in the seventh inning. Eighth makes Rosado look old. At the age of nearly forty, a man may no longer be able to figuratively pull the trigger. Whatever the reason, Rosado certainly didn’t throw much. Melikuziev controlled well in game nine – but the fight was definitely boring. Melikuziev beat as much as he wanted in the tenth and final round. The judges ultimately ruled in his favor, giving Melikuziev a unanimous decision victory.
