Bout #276, the last match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Boxing Tournament, crowned Bakhodir JALOLOV of Uzbekistan as the new Men’s Super Heavy (+91kg) Olympic Champion.
JALOLOV – the tallest super heavyweight contender here in Tokyo, faced USA’s Richard TORREZ JR, who at 188cm is one of the shortest fighters in the division. The 27-year-old Uzbek, taking full advantage of his extra centimetres, beat the 22-year American boxer in an epic final, giving him a standing count amid round two, and then dominating round three, to secure a unanimous decision win.
JALOLOV had landed in Tokyo as the favourite in this event. After a fifth place at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the Uzbek boxer won the last three Asian Championships in a row, in 2017, 2019 and 2021, and gained a spot on the Tokyo’s draw at the Boxing Road to Tokyo qualifier in Paris, earlier this year. Today, he claimed Uzbekistan’s 10th gold medal in the history of the Olympic Games.
“I’m really happy to be the champion,” JALOLOV said. “It feels like a dream for me. I’m still thinking that I’m sleeping. I’m really glad. I’m thankful to all the boxers that I competed with, and all fans who watched my fights. I appreciate it.”
“The next step is my activity in professional boxing,” he continued. “I’ll focus more on professional boxing.”
Silver medalist TORREZ said: “I’ve been on the medal podium before, and it’s one of the best and worst feelings to ever feel. To not have that flag raised, to not have that anthem played, to sit there and one guy is crying tears of the joy, the other sadness. When you are in that position it’s really tough. So maybe one day I’ll look back and say I did a good job, because I do believe I did a good job, but it’s tough.”
“This is one of the most bittersweet moments I’ve ever felt,” he added.
Frazer CLARKE (GBR) and Kamshybek KUNKABAYEV (KAZ) took the bronze medals.
Updated Drawsheet:
