Double Olympic champion has perfect chance to send statement to heavyweight division

Barry McGuigan writes that two-time Olympic champion Bakhodir Jalalov has a major opportunity to make an impression in the professional heavyweight division ahead of his upcoming bout against Solomon Dacres. Now signed with Frank Warren's Queensberry stable, the 32-year-old Uzbek southpaw needs an entertaining, explosive performance to prove he can adapt to professional boxing after previously dividing his focus between the amateur and professional ranks.

McGuigan argues that Jalalov must develop better inside-fighting and close-range combination skills as he steps up in competition. While McGuigan notes that Dacres faces stylistic hurdles against Jalalov, he believes an in-form Dacres still represents Jalalov's most demanding professional test so far.