The move makes little sense from a professional standpoint. The 6’7″ southpaw already owns two Olympic gold medals alongside a pair of World Championship titles. Following his victory at the 2024 Paris Games, Jalolov stated he was walking away from the amateur ranks to focus entirely on the paid ranks.
Two years later, he is heading backward.
There is nothing left for Jalolov to prove in three-round bouts. He dominated the super heavyweight division for years, using his height and reach while carrying a booming left hand that could end fights suddenly.
Eddie Hearn’s heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana experienced that firsthand. Jalolov stopped him in the second round at the 2023 World Championships before outpointing him in the Paris quarterfinals. Teremoana is now advancing his professional career, while his conqueror returns to tournament boxing.
That choice burns valuable time. Jalolov is 17-0 with 15 knockouts, and his size, southpaw skills and punching power give him the tools to challenge leading heavyweights. He holds more pure ability than aging veterans like Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua. However, Jalolov was never moved aggressively enough to secure those marquee matchups before both former champions reached the end of their careers.
Online speculation suggests substantial financial rewards from Uzbekistan officials keep amateur competition appealing to him, though no public evidence confirms that claim.
If this return is aimed at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, the motivation becomes clearer. Only three male boxers in history have won three Olympic golds: Laszlo Papp, Teofilo Stevenson and Felix Savon. Joining that trio would cement Jalolov among the all-time tournament greats.
He will turn 34 by the Los Angeles Games. Spending multiple years focused on amateur tournaments leaves him almost no runway to reach the top of the heavyweight division. Unless he secures that third gold medal, Jalolov is simply letting his professional prime slip away.
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