BAKHODIR Jalolov returned to the pro ranks with a win, if not a bang, recording a 10-round points victory over Ihor Shevadzutskyi in Astana this evening. The scores read: 100-89, 97-92 and 97-93, all in Jalolov’s favour.
Even though Shevadzutskyi was a decent amateur, he had been beaten by Martin Bakole inside three rounds in the first of two losses. The second defeat, to Kubrat Pulev, was more commendable, as he snatched rounds while going 12 rounds with the ageing Bulgarian in early 2024.
The bulky Ukrainian tucked up early, allowing Jalolov to paw with his southpaw jab and even landed a defiant right hand at the close of the opener. Commentator Ray Mancini cheekily compared the rotund visitor to American cult hero ‘Butterbean’ due to his less-than-refined technique.
Jalolov made a dent in the third when a solid left hand sent Shevadzutskyi to his knees for a count. Jalolov continued picking and probing with his jab, pushing down the ‘Hulk’ at every opportunity, to minimal warnings from the passive ref. ‘Hulk’ had blood dribbling from the nose at the start of round five.
A supposedly routine outing lingered as ‘Hulk’ caught the favourite napping again at the close of the seventh. Jalolov made a habit of sticking the jab out in the ninth while Shevadzutskyi returned to the body, with the Uzbek returning the favour.
By the final round, the crowd were openly rooting for the popular away man. In truth, it was a decent 10 rounds for the winner, who was looking to shed some rust. Bakhodir Jalolov lost his 100 per cent KO streak but improved to 15-0 (14 KOs). Ihor Shevadzutskyi is now 12-3 (10 KOs).
