Bakhodir Jalolov systematically dismantled Solomon Dacres over ten rounds, securing a lopsided unanimous decision victory in their heavyweight clash. The bout took place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at The O2 Arena in London, serving as the chief support for the Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley II rematch.
The judges’ scorecards told a story of complete dominance, reading 99-90, 99-90, and 99-91, all in favor of the Uzbekistani prodigy. Jalolov punctuated his performance with a clean knockdown in the fifth round, silencing any pre-fight predictions of an upset from the confident British fighter.
Dacres’ bold prediction falls short
In the lead-up to the fight, Solomon Dacres was brimming with confidence, dismissing his underdog status. He boldly predicted a stoppage victory over the two-time Olympic gold medalist. “Got to get him out of there, man,” Dacres told SecondsOut, forecasting a knockout in the “mid to late rounds.”
Dacres framed the contest as a massive step up in class, declaring, “This fight here is beyond English title level, man. This is like world level.” He believed his professional seasoning and toughness would be enough to make it uncomfortable for Jalolov. Fighters often face a difficult transition from amateur to professional, where heavyweight prospects navigate different challenges than their lighter counterparts.
But the fight exposed the gulf in class between the two men. Dacres’ prediction of a knockout always seemed optimistic, given his record of just three stoppages in ten professional victories.
His most significant prior loss, a first-round stoppage against David Adeleye in December 2024 for the English title, was a result he had labelled a “blip.” This latest defeat, however, suggests a ceiling below the world-level aspirations he holds.
Jalolov’s controlled, if quiet, domination
From the opening bell, Bakhodir Jalolov established control. The 6’7″ southpaw used his immense height and reach advantage to keep the 6’5″ Dacres at the end of his long jab. He effectively managed the distance, neutralizing any attempt by Dacres to get on the inside and make it a rugged affair.
The most decisive moment came in the fifth round. Dacres, perhaps growing frustrated, lunged forward aggressively. Jalolov timed him perfectly, landing a crisp, straight left hand that sent the British heavyweight to the canvas. While Dacres rose and showed his durability, the knockdown seemed to sap his confidence and willingness to take risks for the remainder of the contest.
For the rest of the fight, Jalolov operated comfortably from the outside, picking his shots and never putting himself in danger. While his performance was a technical masterclass, it was described by some observers as “quiet.” He failed to deliver an emphatic finish against an opponent who was clearly outmatched, a critique that has followed him throughout his professional career despite his immaculate record.
Dacres simply lacked the tools to solve the puzzle. His modest punch output and lack of one-punch power meant Jalolov never felt threatened. The Brit’s foot speed was insufficient to cut off the ring against Jalolov, whose lateral movement and ability to angle off after exchanges kept him out of harm’s way.
The pre-fight analysis proved correct: pressing a giant southpaw who excels with a straight left is a recipe for a long, difficult night.
What the result means for Bakhodir Jalolov
With the win, Bakhodir Jalolov improved his professional record to a perfect 18-0. While he couldn’t add another knockout to his ledger, he answered questions about his ability to handle a durable, legitimate professional heavyweight. Dacres represented the most established opponent of his career, and Jalolov passed the test with flying colours.
The victory keeps the highly decorated amateur on his upward trajectory. Holding two Olympic gold medals and two World Amateur Championship titles creates immense expectations, and some critics feel his professional career has progressed too slowly against limited opposition. Such an impressive boxing record amplifies the pressure to perform at an elite level.
Jalolov vowed before the fight to “put the rest of the heavyweight division on notice.” While the performance was more methodical than explosive, it showcased the formidable skills that make him a nightmare matchup for almost anyone. The focus now will be on securing bigger fights to build momentum toward an eventual world title shot.
The path forward will require more active matchmaking against opponents who can truly test him. Fighters like Murat Gassiev or other top-10 contenders would represent the next logical step as Jalolov looks to transition from feared prospect to legitimate world champion. His unique combination of size, skill, and southpaw stance makes him particularly intriguing.
Where does Solomon Dacres go from here?
For Solomon Dacres, the loss drops his record to 10-2 and forces a significant career reassessment. He entered the ring following a courageous victory over Vladyslav Sirenko in July 2025, a fight he won despite suffering a serious biceps injury mid-bout that required surgery. His toughness and heart are not in question, but the skill gap at the highest level was laid bare by Jalolov.
All pre-fight talk of fighting the winner of the Dubois-Wardley main event or other top names has been extinguished. Dacres was thoroughly outboxed and outclassed, proving that he is a level below the elite of the heavyweight division at this stage of his career.
He showed he can take a punch and has the conditioning to go ten rounds, but he lacked the offensive firepower or strategic nuance to trouble Jalolov.
A return to the domestic scene seems the most probable path. Fights for the British or Commonwealth titles would be a realistic goal as he looks to rebuild.
He has proven to be a solid gatekeeper to the European level, but this loss makes it clear that another run at the top tier is a long way off. He remains a recognizable name in British boxing, but he’ll need to string together several impressive wins to earn another opportunity on a world stage.
The loss to Jalolov, combined with his earlier knockout defeat to David Adeleye, establishes a pattern. Dacres has fallen short in his two most significant step-up fights. At 33, he has time to rebuild, but the road back to a major boxing event of this magnitude will be challenging.
