Profile: Vassily Jirov - IBF
Cruiserweight Champ
By Mark Chekhanovskiy
April
18, 2001- Undefeated Cruiserweight champion Vassily
Jirov, the gold medal winner in the light heavyweight
division and voted the most outstanding boxer of
the olympic tournament. He is a classical body puncher,
with power and skill that have not been seen in
many years. Actually, he very well could be the
best, ever.
Jirov had an incredible beginning
to his professional career. After only 2 years as
a pro, he won the IBF Cruiserweight title against
Arthur Williams in a 10 round blowout. Jirov has
left no doubts in his last 6 fights since then,
by winning them all by knockouts. Jirov has demonstrated
that his record of 27-0 with 25 knockouts is not
fashioned from fluff. He has knocked out all of
his number #1 challengers for his IBF
Cruiserweight title
in brutal fashion this year, but still he is unable
to make a dent on Network TV for displaying his
talent. HBO doesn't seem to want to televise him
(or other Eastern European fighters), as the market
in the United States is slanted towards the Hispanic
crowd.
His opponents have
all suffered terrible beatings, in which they would
ultimately quit when Jirov's punches would would
come crashing into their midsection. The sound of
his body punches is unforgettible. If you've seen
him fight, then you know what I'm talking about,
as there is nothing like it. Nobody throws a body
punch like Jirov. Maybe Rocky Marciano, but he never
could throw triple left hands.
Jirov,
originally from Kazakhstan and now living and training
in Arizona, has had a difficult time having his
bouts promoted in the United States. The Cruiserweight
division is often overlooked, as Networks don't
want to show them on TV for lack of superstar talent.
Most boxing stars only stay at Cruiserweight for
short durations before deciding that the pay is
too little, and then look for greener pastures in
the Heavyweight division. Good examples: Evander
Holyfield Bad example: Orlin Norris.
Jirov's new trainer, legend Emanuel
Steward has been pleasantly surprised at his his
boxing ability. Originally Steward was under the
impression that Jirov was only a murderous body
puncher and knockout artist, but since he's taken
over training he's found out that Jirov is an excellent
boxer. It seems that Jirov's last trainer wanted
to turn him into a power puncher, so he took him
away from the great
boxing moves he formerly possessed. Steward's plan
now is to bring back these boxing techniques to
Jirov and get him away from just being a slugger.
As an amateur, Jirov
was second to none. Most of his opponents would
run from the opening bell and it would be like game
of cat and mouse, usually ending in the 2nd round
when he would finally catch up to them and pound
away with both fists until they would slip to the
canvas (usually very hurt). He went on to amass
an amateur record of 207 wins in 10 losses.
Jirov
has used an aggressive technique and devastating
punching power to establish himself as one of the
best fighters in the world today in any division.
Especially noted for his vicious body attack, solid
chin, toughness, and excellent boxing skills. He
has strewn bodies in the wake of the real Cruiserweight
champion. Rest in Peace. Saul Montana, Earl Butler,
and Alphonzo Washington. He has completely obliterated
an entire division, and now nothing but the near
dead remain: James Toney, and Virgil Hill
Negotiations are now
underway for Jirov to fight the legendary James
Toney on July 7. It will be part of a doubleheader
that will possibly have one of the Klitschko brother's
fighting as the headliner.
This bout hinders on
whether James Toney can get down to 190 pounds,
which means he's got to stay away from dinner table,
and that's something Toney has been unable to do.
He looked grossly overweight in has last bout (210
pounds) and reminded many of Elvis in his later
years.
Gone are the days when Toney was
a lean and quick handed middleweight. Sadly, that
was 10,000 hotdogs and cheeseburgers ago. Now he
just looks fat and old. Looking
like a leading contender in a pie eating contest,
Toney, at the ripe age of 32, is growing slower.
In his last 3 fights, opponents have been able to
beat him to the jab, that is, when he even remembers
to throw a jab.
He no longer has
the heavy hands that he used to at Middleweight
and this could be fatal for him, as without power
in his punches, he has no chance to keep Jirov off
of his soft midsection (and there is a lot of it).
Toney's is going to
have to shrink a lot more before he can be taken
seriously in this bout. He hasn't been facing any
challengers since Montell Griffin with any kind
of respectable power that would necessitate the
need for him to lose the weight. Unfortunately for
him, He may never be ready for the level Jirov's
at, but it would not be fair to write off someone
who holds a victory over against Thomas Hearns.
Toney must be concerned
about Jirov's overhand right. Everyone talks about
Jirov's left hook to the body, but the right hand
is hurtful also. And with Toney throwing a lot more
jabs than right hands, it will probably be easier
to counter with right hands than with the hook.
From the first round,
Jirov will be winging power shots at Toney's soft
midsection, over and over making the ancient fighter,
32 (looks 38), work harder than usual. The idea
is to wear down the older and poorly conditioned
man and ultimately break him down.
This of course, could
be a big mistake. Toney hits very hard. Jirov, has
an excellent chin, maybe one of the greats. So if
Toney is hoping for a knockout, then he will have
to reach back for power that he hasn't possessed
in 5 or more years and he will have to do a lot
of praying.
But this fight is really
a bigger risk for Toney, as a fast knockout at the
hands of Vassily Jirov would be very embarrassing
for the legendary fighter, and I'm not sure he could
recover Psychologically or physically from such
a beating.