Meet the next heavyweight king with 100 percent KO ratio vying to succeed Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua
As one heavyweight era comes to a close, another steps up to take its place. The three kings of the current glamour division Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are all nearing the end of their respective careers – or in Fury’s case, are already retired. Jalolov is aiming to take the reigns from Usyk, Fury and Joshua Daniel Dubois knocked out Joshua in September at Wembley Stadium in a passing of the torch while several fresh faces are chomping at the bit to prove that they are the next great heavyweight. The pick of the bunch in most expert’s eyes is two-time Olympic gold medallist Bakhodir Jalolov. The towering southpaw from Uzbekistan stands 6ft 7in tall and has a monstrous 81-inch reach. However, he doesn’t move like a man of his size. Jalolov is light on his feet, possesses blisteringly quick hands and has an elite boxing brain that has paved the way for a glittering amateur career. Among the mountain of medals in his trophy cabinet are two Olympic golds from Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, two World Championship golds and three Asian Championship golds. Jalolov also boasts an unblemished 14-0 professional record with every single one of his wins coming inside the distance. He made his pro debut back in 2018, although his progression has been stunted by his return to the unpaid ranks for two Olympic cycles. At 30-years-old, Jalolov is now fully focused on professional boxing and ruled out a third Olympic run during an exclusive interview with talkSPORT.com on Thursday. “By returning to my professional boxing career, I have given up amateur boxing,” he said through a translator. Jalolov won gold at the Tokyo and Paris OlympicsGetty “I have no chance of winning three Olympic titles as I want to get attention in professional boxing.” Jalolov returns to the ring on April 5 in his first professional outing since winning gold in Paris. He will feature on a card topped by Janibek Alimkhanuly’s defence of his IBF and WBO middleweight belts against Anauel Ngamissengue at Barys Arena in Astana, Kazakhstan. Standing across from him will be ‘The Ukrainian Hulk’ Igor Shevadzutskiy, who was stopped in the third round by Martin Bakole in 2023 and beaten on points by Kubrat Pulev last year. Boxing fans are clambering to see Jalolov test himself against the divisional elite and when the question was posed to him as to when he will fight a top ten opponent, he replied: “Soon. “I want to get more fights in professional boxing. During my time in amateur boxing, this took a lot of time from me. Jalolov is now fully focused on professional boxingGetty “That is why it took a long time for me to look into professional boxing and start my professional boxing properly. “My legs are very quick, my hands are very fast, I am going to be a problem for this generation. “My ultimate goal is to become undisputed.” Follow talkBOXING on social media talkBOXING is now on Twitter and Facebook. Follow us on social media for big breaking boxing news, exclusive interviews and the best bits from our talkBOXING YouTube show. Like our Facebook page HERE Follow us on Twitter HERE Sign up for our WhatsApp channel HERE
As one heavyweight era comes to a close, another steps up to take its place.
The three kings of the current glamour division Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are all nearing the end of their respective careers – or in Fury’s case, are already retired.
Daniel Dubois knocked out Joshua in September at Wembley Stadium in a passing of the torch while several fresh faces are chomping at the bit to prove that they are the next great heavyweight.
The pick of the bunch in most expert’s eyes is two-time Olympic gold medallist Bakhodir Jalolov.
The towering southpaw from Uzbekistan stands 6ft 7in tall and has a monstrous 81-inch reach.
However, he doesn’t move like a man of his size.
Jalolov is light on his feet, possesses blisteringly quick hands and has an elite boxing brain that has paved the way for a glittering amateur career.
Among the mountain of medals in his trophy cabinet are two Olympic golds from Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, two World Championship golds and three Asian Championship golds.
Jalolov also boasts an unblemished 14-0 professional record with every single one of his wins coming inside the distance.
He made his pro debut back in 2018, although his progression has been stunted by his return to the unpaid ranks for two Olympic cycles.
At 30-years-old, Jalolov is now fully focused on professional boxing and ruled out a third Olympic run during an exclusive interview with talkSPORT.com on Thursday.
“By returning to my professional boxing career, I have given up amateur boxing,” he said through a translator.
“I have no chance of winning three Olympic titles as I want to get attention in professional boxing.”
Jalolov returns to the ring on April 5 in his first professional outing since winning gold in Paris.
He will feature on a card topped by Janibek Alimkhanuly’s defence of his IBF and WBO middleweight belts against Anauel Ngamissengue at Barys Arena in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Standing across from him will be ‘The Ukrainian Hulk’ Igor Shevadzutskiy, who was stopped in the third round by Martin Bakole in 2023 and beaten on points by Kubrat Pulev last year.
Boxing fans are clambering to see Jalolov test himself against the divisional elite and when the question was posed to him as to when he will fight a top ten opponent, he replied: “Soon.
“I want to get more fights in professional boxing. During my time in amateur boxing, this took a lot of time from me.
“That is why it took a long time for me to look into professional boxing and start my professional boxing properly.
“My legs are very quick, my hands are very fast, I am going to be a problem for this generation.
“My ultimate goal is to become undisputed.”
