Rahmatjon Ro‘zioxunov, the head coach of Uzbekistan’s national boxing team, assessed the possibility of two-time Olympic champion Bahodir Jalolov participating in the 2028 Olympics, which will take place in Los Angeles. This was reported by Kazakhstan's major sports portal "Sports.kz" based on information from the ZBS Podcast YouTube channel.
It is known that after his victory at Paris 2024, Bahodir Jalolov announced his transition to professional boxing. Nevertheless, the doors of the amateur team remain open for him.
According to Rahmatjon Ro‘zioxunov, under the current rules, professional athletes have the right to return to the Olympic cycle. The coach emphasized that the final decision will be made closer to the Olympics, taking into account the development of young talents on the national team.
In Ro‘zioxunov's opinion, if Bahodir Jalolov decides to participate in the upcoming World Championship or the 2028 Olympics, it is quite possible for him to win another gold medal, as his current level allows him to confidently defeat his opponents. In response to the question, "Will we see Bahodir Jalolov at a third Olympics or not?" the coach replied: "At this moment, it's hard to say because the young generation is growing."
He has students who also want to become Olympic champions. It has been said in the media many times: ‘Bahodir, let the young have their chance.’
If he goes to the World Championships now, he will win. If he makes it to the next Olympics, he will win there too.
However, the final decision will be made closer to the Olympics.” The coach also confirmed that Jalolov’s path to return is open: “Why should his way be closed? Professional athletes are allowed to return.” It should be noted that Bahodir Jalolov is a two-time Olympic champion (Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024), and after his victory in Paris, he announced his transition to professional boxing.
