Bakhodir Jalolov marked his return to professional boxing with a decisive points victory over Ihor Shevadzutskyi in Astana. The judges scored the bout 100-89, 97-92, and 97-93, all in favor of Jalolov.
Shevadzutskyi, despite a respectable amateur background, had previously suffered a third-round stoppage loss to Martin Bakole. However, he showed resilience in his fight against Kubrat Pulev earlier in 2024, lasting 12 rounds and even winning some rounds against the experienced Bulgarian.
Throughout the fight, the Ukrainian fighter adopted a defensive stance, allowing Jalolov to control the distance with his jab. Shevadzutskyi did manage to land a right hand at the end of the first round. The commentator Ray Mancini humorously likened Shevadzutskyi to the popular fighter `Butterbean` due to his unconventional style.
Jalolov landed a significant left hand in the third round, sending Shevadzutskyi to the canvas for a count. Jalolov continued to utilize his jab and control the fight, consistently pushing back Shevadzutskyi, with minimal intervention from the referee. By the fifth round, Shevadzutskyi was bleeding from his nose.
While expected to be straightforward for Jalolov, the fight saw Shevadzutskyi catch the favorite off guard at the end of the seventh round. In the ninth, Jalolov maintained his jab, while Shevadzutskyi targeted the body, with Jalolov reciprocating.
By the final round, the audience was clearly supporting Shevadzutskyi. Ultimately, it was a valuable ten rounds for Jalolov, who was aiming to shake off any ring rust. With this win, Bakhodir Jalolov`s record improves to 15-0 (14 KOs), while Ihor Shevadzutskyi`s record now stands at 12-3 (10 KOs).
