Bakhodir Jalolov. Picture by Tom Hogan
CARSON, California – Anybody who is aware of about Bakhodir Jalolov anticipated the undefeated heavyweight prospect from Uzbekistan to increase his document to 12-0 with 12 KOs towards American journeyman Curtis Harper on the Jose Zepeda-Regis Prograis undercard on Saturday.
The one query was if Harper make may make it out of the opening spherical. The 34-year-old native of Jacksonville, Florida suffered a first-round knockout the final time he shared the ring with an Olympian, China’s Zhilei Zhang, in 2017. In 2018, his determination to stroll out of the ring proper earlier than his scheduled bout towards Efe Ajagba was about to start went viral on Boxing Twitter.
Nevertheless, Harper (14-9, 9 KOs) could be a robust cookie when motivated. He obtained off the canvas and gave Chris Arreola hell in an eight-round slugfest in 2015. That’s the model that confirmed as much as face the “Massive Uzbek.”
Finally, Harper was extra pesky than gutsy towards the 6-foot-7 southpaw, however he got here to battle and lasted till the fourth spherical. Jalolov (12-0, 12 KOs), a 2020 Olympic gold medalist, dropped Harper onerous with an enormous straight left on the shut of Spherical 3 after which ended issues halfway by way of the next spherical.
“He was more durable than we anticipated,” Jalolov’s coach Joel Diaz admitted after the battle. “Harper was swinging haymakers, so we advised Bakhodir to take his time.”
Jalolov did that in Rounds 1 and a pair of, holding Harper on the finish of his lengthy proper jab and in line for his hammer of a left hand. Harper correctly moved to his left to keep away from Jalolov’s energy punch however was unable to land any of the overhand rights he lobbed at his towering opponent. Jalolov is surprisingly nimble and put his 81-inch wingspan to good use whereas enjoying matador.
The left hand that brutally deposited Harper within the crimson nook on the finish of Spherical 3 was completely timed. Harper, who had been penalized one level for a intentional headbutt in Spherical 2, bravely obtained to his toes and remained on his toes throughout the remaining interval between rounds, however he by no means actually recovered his legs. Referee Thomas Taylor did the proper factor by waving it off after the second knockdown.
So, Jalolov went a number of rounds. He’s but to battle previous eight rounds, however he believes he’s able to face contenders.
“All people has his personal timeline (to a world title),” he stated with translation assist from teammate Alik Frolov. “I feel in possibly three to 4 fights, I’ll get there. I really feel able to field top-10 guys now. Hopefully, one among them can take me 12 rounds earlier than I battle for the title.”
Good luck with that.
