Super heavyweight preview: Can USA win its first Olympic gold since 1984?
- Joe Hewlett
- 20 July 2021
Planet Sport picks the standout fighters from the super heavyweight category in Tokyo ahead of the opening fights on Saturday, July 24.
Top seed: Bakhodir Jalolov
The 26-year-old heavy-hitter is much fancied to claim gold at Tokyo 2020.
The towering southpaw, who was linked with a fight against Tyson Fury by WBO president Paco Valcarcel, returns to compete in another Olympic Games.
In 2016, the Uzbekistan southpaw missed out on winning a medal following a one-sided defeat to Joe Joyce in the quarter-finals.
No limit 🔪☝🏻 pic.twitter.com/2sYH6wy169
— Bakhodir Jalolov (@BakhodirJalolov) July 18, 2021
Jalolov was only 22 years old at the time compared to Joyce was 30, and since then has proved his credentials on the big stage.
He has won the 2019 World Championships as well as winning the Asian Championships on three occasions in 2017, 2019 and 2021.
Jalolov, who has not tasted defeat since 2017, has also fought at professional level, winning all eight fights inside the distance.
Most talked about: Richard Torrez Jr.
The 22-year-old is looking to become the first super heavyweight champion from America since Tyrell Biggs - the same year Torrez Jr's father fought at the US trials as well as it being the first super heavyweight edition in the Olympics.
His father was rated as high as No.4 in the world but faltered in the semi-finals of qualification for Los Angeles. He retired with an amateur record of 226-36-4.
Torrez Jr., a third-generation fighter from California's San Joaquin Valley, is also trained by his father. Boxing in the Torrez household started in 1945 when his grandfather won the southwest (US) Golden Gloves competition.
Continuing the legacy, Torrez Jr. has a reported amateur record of 151-10 and is the first super heavyweight to represent America since Dominic Breazeale in 2012.
One to watch: Frazer Clarke
It is finally time for the Team GB captain to shine. In 2012, Anthony Joshua got the nod over Clarke and won gold in the super heavyweight category.
Then there was 2016. Despite winning top honours at the Rio 2016 test event, Joyce was picked instead for the competition and went away with silver, losing a disputed fight to Tony Yoka.
Nobody deserves it more than Clarke. At 29, the Olympics could be the last event Clarke represents Team GB at with a move to the professional circuit more than likely.
Clarke is experienced and can handle the pressure having previously won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games as well as the European Union Championships in 2014 and 2018.
Expect Clarke to edge out the likes of Frenchman Mourad Aliev and make the podium this summer.
