Two-time Olympic super heavyweight champion Bakhodir Jalolov delivered a commanding performance at London’s O2 Arena, securing a dominant unanimous decision victory over Britain’s Solomon Dacres. The ten-round heavyweight contest was held on the Queensberry Promotions undercard of the high-profile rematch between Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley, broadcast live around the world on DAZN.
Entering the ring with an unbeaten record, Jalolov systematically controlled the tempo from the opening bell, demonstrating the technical skills and reach advantages that earned him international acclaim in the amateur ranks. Dacres, a former English heavyweight champion attempting to score a major career breakthrough, proved resilient across the ten-round distance but was largely unable to break through the defensive guard or tall southpaw stance of his opponent.
The victory allowed the 32-year-old Uzbek star to retain his undefeated professional record, moving to 18-0 after going the distance for only the third time in his career. The three ringside judges scored the contest heavily in favor of Jalolov, returning official scorecards of 99-91, 99-90, and 99-90. World Boxing News (WBN) scored every round for Jalolov, awarding him a 100-89 shutout victory on its ringside scorecard, aided by a dominant fifth round.
From the start of the bout, Jalolov established his physical presence inside the O2 Arena. Standing 6ft 7in tall, the southpaw held a two-inch height advantage over the 6ft 5in Dacres and utilized his long left jab to keep the Birmingham heavyweight from establishing comfortable striking range.
During the opening four frames, Jalolov worked methodically from behind his jab, taking control of the center of the ring. Dacres attempted to press forward and find success inside, but Jalolov’s footwork and perimeter control kept the local fighter off balance. WBN scored the first four rounds 10-9 in favor of Jalolov as he consistently outlanded Dacres with clean straight shots and controlled the pace.
The fifth round proved to be the most decisive frame of the fight. Jalolov increased his output and pressed forward with heavy combinations, catching Dacres with sharp left hands. The sustained pressure earned Jalolov a 10-8 frame on the WBN scorecard, placing Dacres in significant trouble. Despite taking heavy shots, Dacres displayed remarkable durability to withstand the assault and survive the round without being stopped.
In the second half of the contest, Jalolov resumed his disciplined boxing approach. Rounds six, seven, and eight unfolded in similar fashion to the early frames, with Jalolov picking his punches from distance and keeping Dacres at bay. Dacres continued to march forward with determination, looking for openings to land a dramatic turning punch, but Jalolov’s spatial awareness and defensive posture rendered the British fighter’s attacks ineffective.
Entering the ninth and tenth rounds, Jalolov maintained complete focus, sweeping the final frames on the unofficial card to complete a comprehensive ten-round performance. While Jalolov was unable to add a 16th knockout to his record, the overwhelming nature of his unanimous decision victory reaffirmed his standing as one of the most dangerous heavyweight contenders in the sport.
For Dacres, the result marked his second career defeat, leaving his professional record at 10-2, though he earned respect for lasting the ten-round distance against one of the heavyweight division’s most feared punchers.
Preview
Prior to their clash in London, Jalolov’s journey in the professional ranks had generated widespread interest alongside questions regarding his opposition. The Uzbek southpaw compiled an iconic amateur career, securing super heavyweight gold medals at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games. However, despite accumulating 15 knockouts across his first 17 professional bouts, observers noted that his progression toward world title contention was notably slower than his Olympic achievements might have suggested.
Standing 6ft 7in with a sharp southpaw delivery, Jalolov’s physical attributes made him a difficult assignment for anyone in the division. Despite his record, analysts awaited a matchup that would force him to navigate tough professional resistance, making the ten-round bout against Dacres an important step in his progression.
Dacres entered the ring at The O2 seeking redemption and a high-profile win. The former English heavyweight champion suffered the first setback of his professional career in December 2024, when he was stopped in the opening round by David Adeleye. Undeterred by the defeat, the Birmingham heavy hitter worked his way back into contention in July 2025 by securing an impressive points victory over the previously unbeaten Ukrainian prospect Vladyslav Sirenko.
Facing Jalolov represented one of the toughest assignments of Dacres’ career, but it offered an opportunity to jump straight into the world-class conversation. Giving up two inches in height and conceding reach to the two-time Olympic champion, Dacres entered the contest as a major underdog on home soil.
The fight served as one of the featured bouts on a massive Queensberry Promotions event in London, anchored by the main event rematch between Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley. The entire fight card was delivered to an international audience via DAZN, with World Boxing News providing round-by-round coverage and updates throughout the night.
With ten valuable rounds banked against a durable, top-tier domestic competitor, Jalolov successfully cleared another hurdle in his professional transition, maintaining his undefeated record while gaining key experience over the full distance.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.
