Tokyo, Japan, August 8, 2021: Uzbekistan giant Bakhodir Jalolov produced a power-packed performance to win boxing gold for his country in the last event of the programme at Kokugikan Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Coming into the final of the men’s super heavyweight (+91kg) category against Richard Torrez Jr of the United States, Uzbekistan had not won any boxing medal here in Tokyo.
Their two gold medals to this point had come in taekwondo and weightlifting, while they had added bronze in judo and wrestling.
Jalolov would change all that, though, in a commanding performance in which he used his superior height and reach to cause all sorts of problems for the young American.
Torrez was repeatedly told to keep his head up and eventually was penalized a point in the second round, by which time he had two cuts around his left eye which needed major work by his seconds to prevent a blood bath.
After losing the first round on the cards of four of the five judges, the 27-year-old Uzbek southpaw then took control and won the next two rounds 5-0 to complete a 5-0 unanimous verdict.
The result was not in doubt, but when the referee signalled victory for the California-based professional, Jalolov sank to his knees and wept openly, such was the relief of winning gold for his proud boxing country.
The 2019 world champion finished fifth at Rio 2016 but made up for it in Tokyo with a performance of power, technique and concentration as the smaller, stocky American tried to unsettle him.