Undefeated 6’7 heavyweight Bakhodir Jalolov (12-0, 12 KOs), who recently signed a multi-year promotional contract with Top Rank, will make his Top Rank debut in an eight-rounder August 26 on the ESPN-televised undercard of the Jared Anderson-Andriy Rudenko heavyweight showdown at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa. The opponent for Jalolov, the 2020 Olympic gold medalist, will be announced shortly.
Bob Arum: “Bakhodir Jalolov is one of the finest heavyweight talents in boxing today. His tremendous amateur credentials speak for themselves, and as a professional, he has proven to be equally devastating. I truly believe he will be a heavyweight champion one day.”
It’ll be interesting to see exactly what they do with him and how fast they move Jalolov. I’m thinking he gets a really easy fight his first time out, but maybe Takam or a Rice type for his second.
I heard this same card has Ajagba – Zhan on it as well.
“I heard this same card has Ajagba – Zhan on it as well.”
Just read the same on another site. This is a nice addition to the card. I think Zhan is a lot better than some on this board give him credit for. I think he has decent hand speed, is a great body puncher, and has subtle footwork that he uses to get his opponents out of position before teeing off on them. He’s also a Southpaw who throws punches from all angles. He seems to have a VERY casual approach in the ring though. Hopefully Ajagba can push him a little more, to the point where Zhan is forced to show a little more urgency. I like Zhan in this one, then hopefully Anderson-Zhan is rescheduled.
I hope Zhan isn’t too casual because Ajagba can go there as well (like in his last fight) and it would not make for a good fight with two pretty big punchers in the ring (although I do think Ajagba is a bit overrated as a puncher).
I think it’s really cool that they’re bringing Zhan over. Get him in the mix, Makhmudov, Jalolov, maybe get Ivan Dychko some run as well?? All of these kind of older prospects who were decorated amateurs and are still trying to show how good they are in the pros.
Top Rank also has Richard Torrez, Jr., who has three losses to Jalolov in the amateurs. One was a scary knockout loss. Kudos to Torres for taking Jalolov to a decision in the Super Heavyweight Final at the 2020 Olympics for a silver medal.
That knock out was bruuuuutal! Torres better stay as far away from Jalolov as he can. He’s too small for the heavyweight division anyway
I have been waiting a long time for something interesting to happen around Jalolov.
In five years, he has boxed twelve games against opponents who are not worth the paper the contract is written on.
I expect more from an Olympic Games and World Championships gold medalist.
Jalolov is 29 years old and that’s no age as a heavyweight if you’ve already come a long way. That is not the case here. Jalolov has almost the entire journey ahead of him.
It’s time to challenge someone in at least the top 30.
Interested to see him fight, hope he isn’t just another big slow robotic fighter. Would prefer more of a “I must break you” Ivan Drago type
Ok, I guess I have no idea what i means to be amateur or professional now. Jakolov turned pro in 2018, yet won gold in the 2020 Olympics, (which were actually in 2021). Cool, I get it, pros can fight in the Olympics now. Weird, but whatever. Then he continued to fight as an amateur and pro since then. He just won the world amateur championship in May!
Just wondering…… Will they put him in with Anderson soon? How fast are they going to move him? Hmmm. Does arum milk the cash cow in Anderson or does he feed him to the lions (Jalolov)? Inquiring minds want to know? Better yet, is Jalolov that good?
Jalolov is reportedly fighting Onoriode Ehwarieme. He’s 20-2 with 19ko’s, both losses by ko including one to Zhan a couple of years ago and he hasn’t beaten anyone of note either. About the level I figured they’d put him in with.