Two-time Olympic gold-medallist Bakhodir Jalolov says he's more than ready to take a step up in competition and challenge for world titles as soon as possible.

The Uzbek heavyweight, who won gold at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, turned professional in 2018, taking intermittent breaks from the paid ranks to focus on his Olympic success.

All 14 of his pro fights have ended in stoppage victories, with seven of them coming in the first round. Fans and pundits alike are now keen to see the clearly talented Jalolov compete against top 10 opposition.

He returns this weekend on the Janibek Alimkhanuly-Anauel Ngamissengue card at the Barys Arena in Astana, Kazakhstan against Ihor Shevadzutskyi (12-2, 10 KOs). The fight will be streamed live on ESPN+ in the United States.

But once that's out the way, Jalolov is keen to get things moving with several fights in 2025, and he also believes he's ready to take on the highest-calibre heavyweight fighters.

"After a long journey, I'm now ready to get a world title," he told The Ring. "I want to get it as soon as possible, I'm nearly 100 percent ready to fight for a world title.

"I'm ready to fight the great fighters in the heavyweight division. Usyk, Joshua, I'm ready to fight these fighters."

"[So far] all of the fighters are the same for me, I have a strong punch, yes, but I've not fought any top 10 fighters yet, so I've been able to relax while fighting. This weekend I'll fight again then we'll see what happens with my career.

"When I enter the ring, knocking out opponents isn't important to me to entertain fans because I'll have some difficult fights to come, I won't be able to knock every fighter out.

"Allah knows best, I'll have three or four fights this year, 2025 we'll see what happens."

Jalolov, 30, has hopes and dreams of putting his country on the map in the sporting world. Israil Madrimov and former junior-featherweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev are two other notable Uzbek names in boxing.

But he notes the importance of the government getting behind athletes wanting to pursue their goals and highlights professional footballer Abdukodir Khusanov's rise to prominence and his move to Premier League club Manchester City as a beacon of hope for Uzbek kids.

"In Uzbekistan, sport is developing day by day, we now have Abdukodir Khusanov playing for Manchester City now, I have my own private boxing schools, I manage them and our president supports it. My life in Uzbekistan is amazing, I enjoy my life here.

"I started boxing when I was 14 years old, I loved playing football and watching Wladimir Klitschko. He didn't take too many punches, he was a great heavyweight champion, I loved his style in the ring.

"My family are very proud of me, they're happy and glad for my success."