Given little chance to win, Gabriel Rosado scores one punch knockout over 'Bully' Bektemir Melikuziev

Bullied, rocked and dropped in the opening round, long-time contender’s Gabe Rosado’s chances of winning against Bektemir Melikuziev appeared almost nil.

Rosado hardly did better in round two, as Melikuziev, nicknamed “Bully,” continued to land bone crushing body shots. Rosado took them well and fired a few punches, but nothing was bothering the much younger and more powerful Melikuziev.

The end seemed imminent.

Rosado,35, who’s been in the ring with the likes of David Lemieux, Jermell Charlo and Gennady Golovkin is nothing if not crafty. And tough. Very, very tough. He’s left pieces of himself in various rings during his 40-fight career.

It was time to dip into his bag of tricks. Melikuziev, with only seven fights under his belt, came out swinging wide shots in round three. His confidence was sky high. No way he could lose to this old guy.

He’d soon come crashing down.

Backed up in the corner, and seemingly on the defensive, Rosado timed the onrushing Melikuziev perfectly, connecting with a right that deposited the highly publicized bully on his face.

Referee Rocky Burke waved off the fight as Melikuziev, with a woozy look on his face, struggled.

Rosado had shocked everyone but himself.

“I knew I had after round one, “said Rosado. I was timing him. He put me down. I knew I could get him back.”

I’d say so.