Astana, Kazakhstan - The wait is over—Bakhodir Jalolov is set to return to the ring on April 5 at the Barys Arena in Astana, Kazakhstan. The two-time Olympic gold medalist will fight on the undercard of Janibek Alimkhanuly’s unified IBF/WBO middleweight title defense at Barys Arena, marking the resumption of his professional career after a year focused on Olympic glory.

Jalolov (14-0, 14 KOs) was last seen in the pro ranks in November 2023, when he scored a first-round knockout over Chris Thompson at the WBC convention in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. However, his return to action has been anything but smooth.

Earlier this year, the towering 6’7” southpaw was scheduled to fight France’s David Spilmont on February 6, but the bout was scrapped at the last minute due to an anomaly found in Jalolov’s pre-fight medicals. Now, with his health cleared and his focus shifting back to the professional ranks, Jalolov is ready to continue his rise in the heavyweight division.

At a press conference in Astana, Nomad Promotions confirmed that Jalolov’s opponent is yet to be finalized—but one intriguing name has already been thrown into the mix: Ivan Dychko (14-0, 13 KOs).

A 2016 Olympic bronze medalist and a fellow towering heavyweight at 6’9”, Dychko is a formidable contender and one of Kazakhstan’s most notable boxing talents. Now based in Orlando, Florida, he has quietly built an undefeated record while waiting for a breakthrough fight. A clash between two decorated Central Asian heavyweights—Jalolov from Uzbekistan and Dychko from Kazakhstan—would be a massive regional showdown that could capture the attention of the entire division.

Jalolov has long been seen as one of the most dangerous rising forces in heavyweight boxing, with his combination of size, power, and skill making him a nightmare matchup for any opponent. His Olympic success in Paris 2024 further cemented his elite status, but now, he must prove that he can translate that dominance into the professional ranks.

A high-profile fight with Dychko—or any solid opponent—would allow Jalolov to take a major step toward title contention. If he continues his knockout streak, he could find himself knocking on the door of a world title opportunity in the next couple of years.

With his April 5 return now confirmed, the question remains: Who will step up to face Bakhodir Jalolov? If it’s Ivan Dychko, fans could be in for a thrilling all-Central Asian showdown between two towering, undefeated punchers.