Jakhongir Zokirov is now a name to watch in the heavyweight division

Source: IBA

15/04/2024

Jakhongir Zokirov is now a name to watch in the heavyweight division

Jakhongir Zokirov W8 Agron Smakici... In Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Saturday Jakhongir Zokirov of Uzbekistan faced Croatia's Agron Smakici, the man who boasts 20-2 professional record but is beast known for landing a punch that cut Tyson Fury in sparring and caused a delay in Fury's heavyweight unification bout vs. Oleksandr Usyk. Zokirov is only twent years old and is a 6'7" southpaw, similar to countryman Bakhodir Jalolov. Zokirov is also an amateur youth world champion. Both Zokirov and Smakici began the fight cautiously, and it was evident that the young Uzbek did not want to rush things and was studying his opponent. Both fighters tested each other’s chins with solid strikes, but Zokirov was often more precise. He set the pace of the fight, using his size advantage and preferred fighting from a longer distance. Despite the disparity in age and experience, Zokirov led confidently throughout the bout, securing a unanimous victory by a wide margin. Zokirov is now 2-0 with a noteworth win over Smakici, who is 20-3.