Uzbekistan was a Juggernaut at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics

Uzbekistan, a central Asian country of about 36 million people, formerly part of the Soviet Union, has supplanted Cuba as the dominant force in amateur boxing. In Paris, Uzbeks won five of the seven gold medals in the men’s boxing competition. Cuba and Ukraine copped the other two.

Super heavyweight Bakhodir Jalolov (pictured) and flyweight Hasanboy Dusmatov were repeaters. They also finished first in their weight class in Tokyo.

Jalolov, a southpaw who comfortably carries 255 pounds on a six-foot-seven frame, is a beast. Per boxrec, he won 58 of his last 59 amateur fights with his lone setback coming on a mysterious walkover. As a pro, he’s 14-0 with 14 knockouts. Only one of his 14 victims lasted more than seven rounds, Belgian-Congolese campaigner Jack Molowayi, and when Molowayi went out, he went out hard, knocked into dreamland by a vicious left hook.

The KO was mindful of Jalolov’s signature win as an amateur, a first-round, one-punch blast-out of Richard Torrez Jr at a 2019 tournament in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Knocked out cold, Torrez was stretchered out of the ring. They would meet again in the gold medal round of the Tokyo Olympiad and Torrez lasted the distance.

With the recent knockouts suffered by Deontay Wilder and Jared Anderson, one can argue that Richard Torrez Jr, who outpointed Anderson as an amateur, has the best chance of bringing the heavyweight belt back to America. Currently 10-0 (10 KOs) as a pro, Torrez with his windmill attack is fun to watch, but don’t hold your breath as he’s a short-armed heavyweight who is undersized by modern standards.

Although Bakhodir Jalolov as a pro has fought only the usual suspects, it says here that the Big Uzbek is already among the top five heavyweights in the world, amateur or pro.

Dusmatov

Two-time gold medalist Hasanboy Dusmatov, a five-foot-two dynamo, has also fought professionally. In his last pro fight in November of last year, he scored a 10-round shutout over an opponent with a 21-5-1 record, boosting his pro ledger to 6-0 (5 KOs).

Dusmatov’s U.S. agent is Russian-born, LA-based Vadim Kornilov who also handles Dmitry Bivol, Israil Madrimov, and Murodjon Akhmadaliev, among others. When in the United States, Kornilov’s fighters can usually be found in the California desert community of Indio training at the compound run by the Diaz brothers, Joel and Antonio.

—

Uzbekistan’s other gold medalists in Paris were heavyweight Lazizbek Mullojonov, welterweight Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev, and featherweight Abdumalik Khalokov. Of the trio, Mullojonov figures to have the most noteworthy career in the pro ranks.

Mollojonov was on the other side of the walkover that we referenced earlier in this piece. When he finally lured Jalolov into the ring, he was competitive, losing a split decision. He’s had four pro fights, winning them by knockout.

At age 25, Mollojonov may have his eyes firmly-focused on a repeat in 2028 when the scene shifts to Los Angeles. However, boxing at the Olympics has been nothing but a headache for the organizers – one controversy after another – and it’s no secret that the ancient sport is on thin ice as an Olympic sport.

Considering the muddled picture, Mollojonov may opt to become a full-time pro sooner rather than later. If he makes fast headway, remember that you read it here first and, in the meantime, be very wary of betting against Bakhodir Jalolov.

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE