Standing at an imposing 6-foot-7, weighing in at a solid 250 pounds, Bakhodir Jalolov isn’t just an undefeated southpaw heavyweight— he’s a human wrecking ball. Jalolov just put pen to paper on a multi-year promotional deal with boxing giants, Top Rank.
The 29-year-old Olympic gold medalist isn’t waiting around either. On Saturday, August 26th, Jalolov is stepping into the ring for an eight-round bout, broadcasting live on ESPN. It’s part of the lead-up to the heavyweight slugfest between Jared Anderson and Andriy Rudenko at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa.
Jalolov can barely contain his excitement. “I can’t wait to start this new chapter in my career and showcase my boxing skills to fans across the globe,” he says. “Top Rank is the cream of the crop in boxing promotion, and I’m itching for the exciting journey that lies ahead.”
Bob Arum, the Top Rank chairman, shares Jalolov’s optimism. He says, “In today’s heavyweight division, Bakhodir Jalolov is a huge talent. His impressive amateur pedigree and his proven destructive ability as a professional make me truly believe he’s got a heavyweight championship in his future.”
Jalolov’s manager, Vadim Kornilov, is another voice in the chorus of approval. “We’re stoked about teaming up with Top Rank,” he says. “We’re on the same page, and we’re gunning for the world championship level with Bakhodir.”
With an impressive undefeated record (12-0, 12 KOs), Jalolov isn’t new to the world boxing scene. He proudly represented Uzbekistan at the 2016 Olympics. Although he fell short against silver medalist Joe Joyce, he bounced back by turning pro in May 2018, celebrating his debut with a third-round TKO against Hugo Trujillo. Three more knockout victories followed within that year, all achieved within four rounds.
2019 saw Jalolov maintain his unbeaten run, with two KO victories, and ending Wilfrido Leal’s resistance in December 2020. He returned to his homeland in April 2021, and crushed Kristaps Zutis in a mere two rounds.
But Jalolov couldn’t stay away from the amateur boxing ring, leading him back to Olympic glory. He captured gold by defeating Richard Torrez Jr., a fellow Top Rank talent, in the championship match. He added another gold medal to his tally at the 2023 World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Jalolov is now itching to put on the gloves again in the professional ring, keen on replicating his stellar amateur success. Fresh off a fourth-round TKO over Curtis Harper last November, Jalolov is eager to show the boxing world what he’s made of.