Boxing’s Unusual Terrain Could Bring Together Two Olympic Rivals, With a Tempting Obstacle in the Mix
Joe Joyce defeated Bakhodir Jalolov at the Rio 2016 Olympics, and now the Uzbek heavyweight is aiming for gold in Paris. A potential professional rematch between them looms, but Delicious Orie stands in the way.
Boxing’s Unusual Terrain Could Bring Together Two Olympic Rivals, With a Tempting Obstacle in the Mix In Rio, Joe Joyce, seeded No. 3, navigated a challenging path to the super-heavyweight final, where he faced the Frenchman Tony Yoka, the top seed. Despite a closely contested bout, many ringside observers believed Joyce had done enough to claim the gold medal, though the decision went to Yoka. This controversial outcome was part of a series of contentious decisions during the tournament, leading to boxing being omitted from the agenda for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Bakhodir Jalolov went on to win gold in Tokyo in 2020 and returns to Paris as the No. 1 seed. Undefeated in 14 professional fights, Jalolov has never allowed a fight to reach its final bell, demonstrating his dominance in the ring. His formidable presence and achievements, including two amateur world championships, have earned him substantial government support from Uzbekistan, approaching nearly a million dollars in rewards.
Jalolov’s career and state-sponsored backing draw comparisons to the era of Soviet Bloc boxing dominance during the Cold War. In contrast, Delicious Orie, supported by the GB center in Sheffield, represents a different model of athlete funding.
As Joe Joyce prepares to face Derek Chisora in a professional bout at the O2 Arena, Jalolov begins his quest for Olympic gold in Paris on the same day. Joyce’s victory could potentially lead to a high-profile bout later this year, possibly in Saudi Arabia, while Jalolov aims for another gold and a significant financial reward upon returning to Uzbekistan.
There is speculation that Jalolov could be invited to a heavyweight event in Riyadh, offering him the chance to avenge his loss to Joyce from Rio 2016. With Jalolov’s dominance in the ring since their Olympic encounter, the prospect of a rematch between these two towering athletes remains intriguing and potentially overdue.
