With the heavyweight division set to be blown open during 2025, fans are searching for a new knockout artist to get behind and Bakhodir Jalolov seems to fit the bill. After not fighting during 2024 to focus on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Uzbek knockout is now poised to make his return.
Jalolov made his professional debut in 2018 but has continued his sensational amateur career simultaneously since, much to the aggravation of some fans who believe it is unfair that the hard-hitting southpaw can continue to compete.
Having already won two world championships, an Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020 and amassing an undefeated professional record consisting of 14 knockout wins in as many fights, Jalolov stepped through the ropes at Paris 2024 as the clear favourite in the super-heavyweight division.
?? Así se vio y oyó desde ringside el KO ?? de Bakhodir Jalolov ?? a Onoriode Ehwarieme #ESPNKnockOut #AndersonRudenko pic.twitter.com/1utJJByIdL
— ESPN KnockOut (@ESPNKnockOut) August 27, 2023
The 30-year-old southpaw lived up to his high expectations in France and delivered another impressive campaign, winning 5-0 on the scorecards in all four of his bouts on route to a second gold medal, defeating Omar Shiha (NOR), Teremoana Junior (AUS), Nelvie Tiafeck (GER) and Ayoub Ghadfa (ESP).
After proving his worth once again, Jalolov then announced his retirement from amateur boxing and made clear his intentions of emulating his success in the professional ranks.
According to Brunch Boxing, Jalolov (14-0, 14KOs) will take on French heavyweight David Spilmont (16-8, 11KOs) in Montreal, Canada on February 6th, as ‘The Big Uzbek’ ends an official 14-month spell of professional inactivity.
Spilmont will enter the contest off of the back of a five-fight win streak, albeit against lesser opposition, with his latest loss being a stoppage defeat to well-known British-based Croatian Alen Babic back in December 2021.
BABIC WINS THE WAR OF ATTRITION ?
10 KO’S IN 10 FIGHTS FOR THE SAVAGE ? pic.twitter.com/FSAlnFzhLm
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) December 18, 2021
Jalolov will become the first Paris 2024 gold medallist to fight professionally since the games, although Cuba’s lightweight champion Erislandy Alvarez has fought an IBA bout in Havana – cruising to a unanimous-decision victory after six rounds against Colombia’s Jose Munoz (16-3).
???Paris Gold Medalist Erislandy Alvarez defeats Jose Munoz via UD6 in an aggressive display in Havana pic.twitter.com/CbrkhGGZym
— Tokkerū (@ATokkers5) August 28, 2024
Despite his inactivity, Jalolov currently sits at #9 and #15 of the WBA and WBO world rankings respectively and will be hoping of putting together a charge for the heavyweight titles during 2025.
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