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Bakhodir Jalolov has knocked out each of his 10 professional opponents.
The 2021 Olympic gold medalist has boxed beyond the third round only twice as a pro. At 6-foot-7 and 251 pounds, the powerful southpaw is touted as one of top prospects in the heavyweight division.
Jack Mulowayi might not have Jalolov’s resume, but he feels he is more than equipped to upset Uzbekistan’s Jalolov in their “ShoBox: The New Generation” main event Friday night in Verona, New York.
“I know I have the tools to beat Jalolov,” Mulowayi said at their weigh-in Thursday. “And looking at him, I know he’s an Olympic champion, but he never had an opponent like me. He never faced someone who’s as hungry and who can take a punch and can give a punch back and come forward the whole time.
“So, we’re going to see on Friday what he’s all about. I think I have more experience in the heavyweight ranks than him, and I believe I have more strength and power than him and better fitness. It’s going to be a great fight.”
Belgium’s Mulowayi (11-2-1, 7 KOs), who was born in the Republic of Congo, hasn’t been knocked down during any of his 14 professional fights, let alone knocked out. His two losses were a 10-round majority decision to Belgium’s Herve Hubeaux (33-3, 14 KOs) and a 10-round unanimous decision to Cuban contender Frank Sanchez (20-0, 13 KOs).
“Most definitely, this is the best opponent I’ve faced in the pro ranks,” Jalolov told BoxingScene.com. “I feel like the opposition is getting better and better with each fight.”
The 6-foot-5, 242-pound Mulowayi has won four straight fights, all by knockout or technical knockout, since Sanchez out-boxed him in October 2019. Two fights ago, Mulowayi stopped previously undefeated Russian Apti Davtaev (20-1-1, 19 KOs) in the eighth round of an April 2021 bout in Grozny, Russia.
“I know that he’s a very, very good boxer,” Jalolov said. “He’s experienced. He’s very awkward, not the standard fighter. So, he’s a very tough guy to fight.”
Showtime’s three-bout broadcast from Turning Stone Resort Casino is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET.
Tyler Tomlin (13-0, 9 KOs), of Ashland City, Tennessee, is set to box Quebec’s Chann Thonson (10-0, 7 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight bout that’ll open Showtime’s telecast. George Arias (17-0, 7 KOs), a Bronx-based heavyweight, and Cleveland’s Alante Green (10-0-1, 7 KOs) will square off in the eight-round co-feature.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.