Bakhodir Jalolov is targeting a further two fights before the conclusion of 2026 – and then a potential fight for a world heavyweight title.
The Uzbek and double Olympic gold medallist was frustrated at having fought only twice during 2025 and, on the eve of his first contest of 2026 – against Croatia’s Agron Smakici, at the Co-op Live in Manchester, England, on the undercard of Fabio Wardley-Daniel Dubois – he hereafter has grander plans.
One of the world’s finest heavyweight prospects is determined to position himself strongly within the shifting sands of his weight division, and to that end he recognises the value of fighting in Britain, where that weight division is so competitive, and in part because of the way it means that his profile may be enhanced.
“This year, the best result will be to have two more fights, and maybe next year I could be ready to fight for a world title,” he told BoxingScene.
“It’s more about having a fight on this kind of show, because there was an aim to have a fight in the United Kingdom, because of the respect from the fans; the recognition from the fans, so this is what I’m looking forward to.
“I expect to fight most regularly here, in the UK. At this moment, fighting in the heavyweight division, fighting in the UK is the best way for me right now.
“The last year was not very easy. It was very difficult, because I didn’t have an exact camp. For this fight, I kept in shape, and I was offered the fight for an exact date. I didn’t prepare for this initially, but now it’s much better than the previous year – the previous year was quite difficult.
“We were supposed to have a fight in Canada, and it was cancelled, which we never expected. We travelled; then the fight didn’t happen; then we got the fight in Kazakhstan because we needed to have a fight. Before the last fight, in Russia, I got an illness but I didn’t cancel because I have to have a fight. Altogether, this made the year very difficult.
“There was some kind of conditioning work that was probably missing last year, which we done properly this year. I went to the mountains for conditioning work. Compared to last year I’ve done a lot.”
It is because of the expectation that the IBF, WBA and WBC champion Oleksandr Usyk is nearing the end of his career and that Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua – perhaps the division’s two biggest names – will fight and reach the end of theirs that opportunities for less established figures could soon arise.
“We never know [if I have time to fight Usyk], because Usyk’s probably very close to his retirement,” Jalolov said, via a translator. “If there’s a window to do that fight, it would be a big dream. [The winner of] Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury is another dream fight as well.
“Maybe this [fight against kickboxer-turned-boxer Rico Verhoeven] is about the money for Usyk. But everybody understands that boxing’s a traditional kind of sport – you can’t be on the same level with guys like this when you’re in a different sport. You need many years to [be competitive] with them, so this is probably about a show; a performance. Not about a real boxing match.
“I can’t say I’m disappointed [about it], because he’s a professional boxer – if he gets good money… Usyk’s in a position where he can choose whatever he wants. I can’t say I’m disappointed – it is what it is.
“I’ve seen a few of [Smakici’s] fights. [Including] against a big heavyweight, and I don’t think it will be easy. Very experienced guy. I think it should be a good fight.
“He punches powerfully. I think [his former opponent Agit] Kabayel can confirm that.
“[But] he doesn’t have enough boxing skill, and his conditioning is not very good.”
