Two-time Olympian and 2020 Olympic gold medallist Bakhodir Jalolov won the top of the bill Shobox contest with a destructive eighth-round stoppage of Belgian Jack Mulowayi.

Jalolov was in no hurry in the first but he seemed satisfied by a long southpaw left hand that he landed near the end of the session.

The Uzbek, who is based in the Bronx, used his right hand to feint and fiddle his way in for openings, trying to dazzle Mulowayi, keep him at arm’s length and the Belgian was swelling by his left eye in the second.

Mulowayi’s legs were stiffened by a left hand in the third and he went down shortly after but referee Benjy Esteves ruled a slip.

However, the momentum had changed irrevocably and Jalolov found his timing and his range, enjoying plenty of success with his left until the end of the second. 

There was an air of inevitability about matters when they came out for the third. Jalolov waited and waited and then uncoiled a terrific left hand that had Mulowayi in trouble but he survived the follow up assault and heard the bell.

Mulowayi picked up a verbal warning for throwing to the back of the head early in the next, but he marched forwards, daring Jalolov to hit him and the Uzbek was docked a point for holding, a decision that drew boos from the crowds.

Another big left from Jalolov got Mulowayi’s attention in round five but he was finding it hard to string the shots together to put the Belgian away.

The sixth was frustrating for the former Uzbek amateur star until Mulowayi walked onto the punch of the fight up to that point, a left hook, and it caused the Belgian to pitch face first to the mat.

But Jalalov couldn’t press his advantage and the same thing happened in the next, when he dazed Mulowayi with a counter left but couldn’t put his challenger out of his misery. He did, however, in the eighth and final round. He broke through with a couple of heavy shots and then put Mulowayi down heavily when he lowered the boom with a left uppercut and he turned it over and threw a fight-ending hook. 

Mulowayi landed flat on his back with a sickening thud. Referee Esteves instantly waved it off and summoned medical assistance and Mulowayi was down for some time as Jalolov implored his supporters to cool their celebrations until he knew his opponent was okay.

Mulowayi, who had not been down before amateur or pro, had soaked up a beating and earned every cent of his purse the hard way. He is now 11-3-1 (7), time of the stoppage was 1-20 of the eighth and final round of the Showtime Main Event at the Turning Stone in Verona. Jalolov, 11-0 (11), went beyond five for the first time in his career.