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Jared Anderson thinks, “when the dust settles,” that it will be him and Bakhodir Jalolov in opposite corners of the ring.
The highly regarded 23-year-old heavyweight from Toledo, Ohio, was recently asked who he considers to be the most legitimate threat among his peers, and he did not hesitate to provide an answer: Jalolov, the 28-year-old Olympic gold medalist from Uzbekistan.
Anderson, who lives and trains in Houston, Texas, said he thinks he and Jalolov will be involved in a super fight of sorts at some point down the line, similar to the recent rivalry between Deontay Wilder and WBC titlist Tyson Fury. Jalolov won an Olympic gold medal in the 2020 games, outpointing America’s Richard Torrez Jr. in the super heavyweight category.
“Now that you putting me on the spot for it … honestly, the one that won the Olympics,” Anderson said of Jalolov in an interview with Max Kellerman on his ESPN show Max on Boxing. “I want to say he’s 6’7”. I don’t know how to pronounce his name … yeah, Jalolov. He good. He good. Know what I’m saying? He know how to keep distance. He know how not to get hit. And he got a nice left hand on him. So right now, me being me, if I’m being honest, if he can come over to the states and make him promotable, I’ d definitely think he’s one of those guys I’d stand toe to toe [with].”
Jalolov, who is promoted by Lou DiBella and Probellum, turned professional in 2018 but held onto his amateur status, which allowed him to participate in amateur tournaments while simultaneously building up his record in the paid ranks. Thus far, the strapping southpaw has defeated all 11 of his opponents inside the distance. He is set to take on Curtis Harper on Nov. 26 on the undercard of the WBC junior welterweight elimination bout between Jose Zepeda and Regis Prograis.
Anderson, who has also finished all 12 of his opponents via stoppage, is coming off a second-round stoppage of Miljan Rovcanin in August at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Anderson had a quiet year after he suffered an injury that forced him out of an appearance on the undercard of the heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte in April in London.
The talented Anderson has been widely praised by some of the top fighters in the world, including Fury, who has enlisted Anderson as a sparring partner on occasion.
“I’m the best heavyweight in the world, that’s all there is to be known,” Anderson said. “I’m coming with charisma, I’m coming with a smile, making people laugh, I’m just coming to have fun. Y’all gon’ see it. It’ fun in there for me.”