Vassiliy Jirov
This poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous. )Find sources: "Vassiliy Jirov" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2020) |
Vassiliy Jirov | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union (now Kazakhstan)[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nationality | Kazakhstani | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other names | The Tiger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight(s) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reach | 74 in (188 cm)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stance | Southpaw | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Boxing record | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total fights | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wins | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wins by KO | 32 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Losses | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Draws | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
|
Vassiliy Valeryevich Jirov (
Amateur career
Jirov took up boxing in 1986 when he was 12, studying at the Balkhash Technical School. His first coach was Alexander Apachinsky (Merited Trainer of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Master of Sports of the USSR). Jirov later recalled that:
I came to boxing after seeing the movie "
Rocky", I was eager to be like Rocky. The first time in the ring was painful, I welcomed punches, there were bruises. I said that I will go through it, after all it's not so painful, not so sad, it could make life better. My first coach Alexander Ivanovich Apachinsky wanted me to grow up not just a boxer, but to grow up a man. He helped me doing that. He was a tough man, but if you look at life, at that energy of life, its pressure would simply eat you up. He taught me to go all the way, no matter what.
From 1989 to 1991, he became the champion of the Kazakh SSR three times in a row. In 1990 he became the champion of the All-Union Spartakiad of Young Students (4 fights, 4 victories,
In 1991, Jirov, who was yet at the junior age class, didn't win the USSR Championship in Saratov (4 fights, 3 wins, 2nd place,) however he received an invitation to the USSR youth team.
In 1994, Vassiliy moved to the light heavyweight division (up to 81 kg.)
In December 1996, Jirov travelled to the United States, where he signed a contract with boxing promoter Bob Arum and began his career as a professional boxer.
Highlights
International Junior Tournament (Middleweight), Uzbek SSR , December 1991:
European Junior Championships (Middleweight), Edinburgh, Scotland , April 1992:
Tampere, Finland , May 1993:
Bangkok, Thailand , June 1994:
Hiroshima, Japan , October 1994:
Chemistry Cup (Light heavyweight), Halle, Germany, March 1995:
Sweden Open (Light heavyweight), Stockholm, Sweden , 1996:
|
Korean Open (Light heavyweight), Seoul, South Korea , 1995:
Berlin, Germany , May 1995:
Tashkent, Uzbekistan , October 1995:
Moscow Open (Light heavyweight), Moscow, Russia , October 1995:
Chemistry Cup (Light heavyweight), Halle, Germany, February–March 1996:
Atlanta, Georgia , July–August 1996:
|
Jirov was awarded the
He finished his amateur career having 217 fights under his belt, with a record of 207 wins, 10 losses (no stoppages.)
Professional career
Jirov made his debut as a professional on 18 January 1997, with a two-round knockout of Vince Brown in Las Vegas. He won eleven fights that first year, all by knockout, including wins over Exum Speight and Art Jimmerson. In 1998, he won eight fights, six before the final bell. On 5 May he won the WBC's regional cruiserweight title with a 12-round decision over Rich La Montaigne, who became the first boxer to last the full distance against Jirov. On 5 December he once again fought in Ukrainian territory. In his first fight as a professional in Ukraine, he beat Alexander Vasiliev in Kyiv by decision in eight rounds.
IBF cruiserweight champion
In 1999, Jirov was given his first world title try: In front of an
For his first defense, he fought at the main supportive event at the
In 2000, he beat
On 6 February 2001, Jirov went to Kazakhstan to defend his crown in his home-country for the first time. There, he retained the title with a first-round knockout of
In 2002 Jirov, then managed by the
Losing the title to Toney
Jirov and Toney finally met on 26 April 2003, and Jirov suffered his first career defeat, when he lost the IBF cruiserweight title to Toney by a 12-round unanimous decision. On 9 August Jirov came back, beating fringe contender Ernest Mateen by knockout in seven rounds.
On 6 November 2003 he won the NABO regional cruiserweight title with a six-round knockout of
In his first return bout to the cruiserweight division (April 20, 2006) he defeated Luke Munsen in a unanimous decision.
On 14 July 2007 Jirov defeated Kenny 'The Raven' Craven by TKO in second round of 10 round scheduled bout.
As a heavyweight, Jirov also lost to Joe Mesi by unanimous decision, after throwing a blow to Mesi that resulted in subdural bleeding near the fight's end. It also marked the downturn in Jirov's fighting career, and after a few more fights, he retired in 2009.
Post-fight career in boxing
Jirov lives in Arizona and works at the Scottsdale Boxing Club as a coach. Reflecting on his time as a fighter, Jirov said: “I travelled the world, got paid and kicked some ass.”[5]
Professional boxing record
42 fights | 38 wins | 3 losses |
---|---|---|
By knockout | 32 | 1 |
By decision | 6 | 2 |
Draws | 1 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
42 | Win | 38–3–1 | Jonathan Williams | TKO | 2 (10), 2:52 | 17 Oct 2009 | Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, US | |
41 | Win | 37–3–1 | Kenny Craven | TKO | 2 (10), 2:18 | 14 Jul 2007 | 4 Bears Casino & Lodge, New Town, North Dakota, US | |
40 | Win | 36–3–1 | Luke Munsen | UD | 10 | 20 Apr 2006 | Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort Hotel, Worley, Idaho, US | |
39 | Draw | 35–3–1 | Orlin Norris | MD | 8 | 21 Jul 2005 | Palace Indian Gaming Center, Lemoore, California , US
|
|
38 | Win | 35–3 | Troy Beets | UD | 10 | 14 May 2005 | Coushatta Casino Resort, Kinder, Louisiana , US
|
|
37 | Win | 34–3 | Forrest Neal | TKO | 3 (10), 1:10 | 7 Apr 2005 | Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, US | |
36 | Loss | 33–3 | Michael Moorer | TKO | 9 (12), 2:08 | 9 Dec 2004 | Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, US | For vacant WBA North American, WBA–NABA, and WBC Continental Americas heavyweight titles |
35 | Loss | 33–2 | Joe Mesi | UD | 10 | 13 Mar 2004 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, US | |
34 | Win | 33–1 | Joseph Kiwanuka | RTD | 6 (12), 3:00 | 6 Nov 2003 | Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, US | Won vacant WBO–NABO cruiserweight title |
33 | Win | 32–1 | Ernest Mateen | TKO | 7 (10), 1:09 | 7 Aug 2003 | Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, US | |
32 | Loss | 31–1 | James Toney | UD | 12 | 26 Apr 2003 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, US | Lost IBF cruiserweight title |
31 | Win | 31–0 | Jorge Castro | UD | 12 | 1 Feb 2002 | Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, US | Retained IBF cruiserweight title |
30 | Win | 30–0 | Julian Letterlough | TKO | 8 (12), 1:24 | 8 Sep 2001 | Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, US | Retained IBF cruiserweight title |
29 | Win | 29–0 | Adolpho Washington | UD | 10 | 20 Jul 2001 | Memorial Civic Center, Canton, Ohio, US | |
28 | Win | 28–0 | Terry McGroom | KO | 1 (12), 1:22 | 24 Mar 2001 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, US | Retained IBF cruiserweight title |
27 | Win | 27–0 | Alex Gonzales | KO | 1 (12), 1:35 | 6 Feb 2001 | Baluan Sholak Sports Palace, Almaty, Kazakhstan | Retained IBF cruiserweight title |
26 | Win | 26–0 | Earl Butler | TKO | 2 (10), 2:35 | 29 Jul 2000 | Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, US | |
25 | Win | 25–0 | Esteban Pizzarro | KO | 2 (10), 2:59 | 19 May 2000 | Playboy Mansion, Los Angeles, California, US | |
24 | Win | 24–0 | Don Normand | TKO | 1 | 25 Mar 2000 | Seven Feathers Casino Resort, Canyonville, Oregon, US | |
23 | Win | 23–0 | Saúl Montana | TKO | 9 (12), 2:55 | 12 Feb 2000 | Bank of America Centre, Boise, Idaho , US
|
Retained IBF cruiserweight title |
22 | Win | 22–0 | Dale Brown | KO | 10 (12), 2:52 | 18 Sep 1999 | Mandalay Bay Events Center , Paradise, Nevada, US
|
|
21 | Win | 21–0 | Arthur Williams | TKO | 7 (12), 1:59 | 5 Jun 1999 | Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, US | Won IBF cruiserweight title |
20 | Win | 20–0 | Onebo Maxime | KO | 5 (12), 2:48 | 22 Apr 1999 | Dallas, Texas , US
|
Won vacant WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight title |
19 | Win | 19–0 | Cesar Rendon | KO | 1 (8), 0:25 | 6 Mar 1999 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, US | |
18 | Win | 18–0 | Alexander Vasiliev | UD | 8 | 5 Dec 1998 | Palace of Sports, Kyiv, Ukraine | |
17 | Win | 17–0 | John Kiser | TKO | 8 (10), 0:43 | 3 Oct 1998 | Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada , US
|
|
16 | Win | 16–0 | Cliff Nellon | TKO | 3 (8), 2:22 | 6 Aug 1998 | Grand Casino Avoyelles, Marksville, Louisiana, US | |
15 | Win | 15–0 | Rich LaMontagne | UD | 12 | 5 May 1998 | Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi , US
|
Won vacant WBC International cruiserweight title |
14 | Win | 14–0 | Jason Waller | TKO | 1, 2:00 | 14 Mar 1998 | Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US | |
13 | Win | 13–0 | Trent Surratt | TKO | 2 (8), 2:58 | 10 Feb 1998 | Midnight Rodeo, Phoenix, Arizona, US | |
12 | Win | 12–0 | Jason Nicholson | TKO | 2 (10), 2:37 | 23 Jan 1998 | Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi , US
|
|
11 | Win | 11–0 | Art Jimmerson | TKO | 2 (10), 2:55 | 6 Dec 1997 | Circus Maximus Showroom , Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
|
|
10 | Win | 10–0 | Quinton Osgood | TKO | 1 (8), 2:15 | 18 Oct 1997 | Star of the Desert Arena, Primm, Nevada, US | |
9 | Win | 9–0 | Calvin Combs | TKO | 2 (8), 1:17 | 12 Sep 1997 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, US | |
8 | Win | 8–0 | Dennis Matthews | TKO | 4 (6), 1:47 | 5 Jul 1997 | Isle of Capri Casino, Lake Charles, Louisiana , US
|
|
7 | Win | 7–0 | Gesses Mesgana | TKO | 2 (8), 2:23 | 31 May 1997 | Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey , US
|
|
6 | Win | 6–0 | Tyrone Armstead | RTD | 4 (6), 3:00 | 12 Apr 1997 | Tropicana Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, US | |
5 | Win | 5–0 | Calvin Smith | TKO | 1 (4) | 30 Mar 1997 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, US | |
4 | Win | 4–0 | Aljenon DeBose | TKO | 3 (6), 2:54 | 8 Mar 1997 | Convention Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, US | |
3 | Win | 3–0 | Chuck Miller | TKO | 4, 2:38 | 12 Feb 1997 | New York City, New York , US
|
|
2 | Win | 2–0 | Exum Speight | TKO | 3 (6), 2:00 | 28 Jan 1997 | Club Rio, Tempe, Arizona, US | |
1 | Win | 1–0 | Vincent Brown | TKO | 2 (6), 1:29 | 18 Jan 1997 | Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, US |
References
- ^ HBO Sports tale of the tape prior to the James Toneyfight.
- ^ a b Vasily Zhirov. sports-reference.com
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
- ^ Dennen, John (2015-07-07). "Vassiliy Jirov looks back on fights with James Toney, Michael Moorer, his Olympic gold medal and more". Boxing News. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
- ^ "Best I Faced: Vassiliy Jirov". Ring TV. 23 July 2018.
External links
- Vassiliy Jirov at BoxRec (registration required)
- Vassiliy Jirov at Olympics.com
- Vassiliy Jirov at Olympedia