Oxlestes grandis was named by Nessov (1982) [type is not fused second and third cervicals, contra Nessov and Kielan-Jaworowska (1991) and Averianov (2000)]. Its type specimen is CCMGE 6/11758, a set of vertebrae (axis), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is SSHD-8a, Sheikhdzheili, which is in a Cenomanian terrestrial horizon in the Khodzhakul Formation of Uzbekistan.

It was considered a nomen dubium by Averianov and Archibald (2005).