Bakhodir Jalolov Outpoints Vitaliy Kudukhov in Scrappy Eight-Rounder

Saint Petersburg, Russia - Bakhodir Jalolov (16-0, 14 KOs) extended his unbeaten record with a unanimous decision over Russia’s Vitaliy Kudukhov (7-5, 5 KOs) at the Sibur Arena in Saint Petersburg. The eight-round stay-busy fight was never in doubt on the scorecards, but Jalolov’s cautious approach and heavy reliance on clinching left observers with mixed impressions.

Kudukhov, smaller but determined, charged forward from the opening bell, forcing Jalolov to box on the back foot. The towering Uzbek southpaw controlled the early rounds with his jab and a string of clean uppercuts off the lead hand, but as the fight wore on, his energy seemed to fade. The bout turned physical, marked by holding, shoving, and repeated warnings. Both men lost a point in Round 5 — Kudukhov for hitting on the break and Jalolov for excessive holding — and the pattern never really changed.

Jalolov’s best work came in flashes: a crisp one-two in the second, a thudding left to the body in the fourth, and several clean right jabs late in the seventh. But the expected knockout never came. Instead, Jalolov coasted to the finish, content to box safely and collect the decision. The judges scored it unanimously for the undefeated Uzbek.

Performance Analysis

Jalolov dominated statistically but looked strangely flat. His vaunted straight left landed often, yet without the snap or authority that once defined it. The footwork was cautious, the tempo uneven, and the holding excessive. At times he seemed to revert to his amateur instincts — score, move, tie up — rather than assert professional control.

To his credit, Kudukhov’s toughness and constant pressure disrupted Jalolov’s rhythm. The Russian never stopped coming forward, absorbing punishment and forcing Jalolov to work for every inch of space. It was a messy fight, but one that revealed the Uzbek’s vulnerability when pressed.

Career Context

Jalolov remains undefeated and technically sound — but these “tick-over” bouts are starting to expose stagnation.
At 31 years old, time is no longer on his side. He’s too good to be fighting unranked opposition, yet his team seems unwilling to risk a step-up until the right deal appears.

There are two ways forward:

• Reignite momentum with a top-15 opponent and assertive performance; or
• Continue treading water while younger prospects like Moses Itauma and Richard Torrez Jr. close the visibility gap.

For now, Jalolov’s perfect record survives — but the aura of inevitability has dimmed. He’s still one of the most skilled big men in the world, yet Saturday’s fight served as a quiet reminder that skill alone doesn’t move the professional chessboard.