2003: Roy Jones vs. Vassiliy Jirov at Cruiser

In 2003, before Jones fought Ruiz and before Toney fought Jirov, had this match been made, who would have won it? It actually could have been made but nobody is faulting Jones for going after Ruiz at HW. I would have posted this in the fantasy fights section, but that doesn't get enough traffic anymore and this would have been a pretty interesting matchup. Jirov with his menacing workrate, iron chin, and devastating body attack? Or Jones with his accurate punching, blinding handspeed, and awesome natural skills? prime roy could not be stopped imo

Jones is good but hes not great, Jones was simply a very smart-business like boxer. He will never be considered great to me only good. Jirov will destroy him and he knows it. I honestly think he would of never fought tarver if he didnt get so much pressure. He avoided so many boxers it horrible. Dont get me wrong Roy is a skilled boxer yet never boxed to his potential and took risk like a true champ and warrior does.

roy jones would beat him then today anyday

I think Jirov may have beaten Tarver and Johnson to being the first ti KO Roy had this happened.

This fight could happen now. Jirov is going to destroy himself trying to be a heavyweight. Didnt he throw a soda or something at Toney on the Best Damn Sports Show Period?

Jirov would of beaten Jones. Now there's a shock...

Jirov would of beaten Jones.

jones would have beat jirov just as easy as he beat ruiz...jirov can probably beat jones now though

I personally think Jirov will win. Jirov is a very high-punching boxer, something Roy is not familar with. Jirov also has a very granite-like chin. Also Roy is not use to pressure, which Jirov is known for, his very aggressive style. I predict Roy will get knocked out in 7, from a devasting body punch.

didnt Michael Moorer just beat Jirov??? LOL Yes sir and many on this site were devistated and shocked by the outcome...Jirov gets hit with everything and he always has...this was acceptable at the crusierweight level but it is obviously not exceptable at HW...I had a good feeling that Moorer would knock him out! If Jirov does not quit campaigning as a heavy he will be brain dead...he already is starting to have speech problems. Someone needs to take care of him better all Vassily knows what to do is fight...someone needs to make better decisions on his behalf-otherwise he is in big trouble.

didnt Michael Moorer just beat Jirov??? LOL

juan carlos gomez is most underrated

i like jirov but jones UD

Jirov was ruined after the Toney fight and I dont think Jones hits like Mesi. Ruined is taking it a little too far, I think. He hasn't performed like a ruined fighter. He came back and boxed circles around Michael Moorer for 9 rounds, for example. Also, Jirov was overrated, in my opinion. Rich LaMontagne gave him all kinds of trouble just by nailing him with straight right hands (a punch that Jirov has always been wide open for). Jirov never fought the best cruiserweight around in his time (JC Gomez), and so we never really got to find out how good he was. I suppose you're right, though, that Mesi had the power to command Jirov's respect, whereas Jones probably did not. So clearly there is the possibility that Jirov would stay on top of Jones and beat him down the way Johnson did, but I don't think so. I think Jones had enough (desire and speed) left in late 2002 to get the win.

I do agree that Toney really did beat the shit out of Jirov and put a lot of wear on him. He landed over 400 punches for goodness sakes. You can also tell that Jirov isn't as comfortable with heavyweight punches as much as he is with cruiser punches, and Roys no big puncher above 168. Vassiliy would be the most live opponent that Roy fought in his entire career until Tarver. If Jirov has no respect for Toneys punching then he most likely wouldn't have any respect for Jones'. I'd make em even money, but Jirov wouldn't only fight Jones when he's on the ropes like Tarver did. He be throwing at his body and head up and down pretty constantly everywhere. Im wit ya!

Joe Mesi's superior boxing skills made Jirov look like a rank amateur. Jones would completely dominate Jirov, 10 rounds to 2. I do agree that Toney really did beat the shit out of Jirov and put a lot of wear on him. He landed over 400 punches for goodness sakes. You can also tell that Jirov isn't as comfortable with heavyweight punches as much as he is with cruiser punches, and Roys no big puncher above 168. Vassiliy would be the most live opponent that Roy fought in his entire career until Tarver. If Jirov has no respect for Toneys punching then he most likely wouldn't have any respect for Jones'. I'd make em even money, but Jirov wouldn't only fight Jones when he's on the ropes like Tarver did. He be throwing at his body and head up and down pretty constantly everywhere.

Joe Mesi's superior boxing skills made Jirov look like a rank amateur. Jones would completely dominate Jirov, 10 rounds to 2. Jirov was ruined after the Toney fight and I dont think Jones hits like Mesi. At the point we are taking about in Jones's career workrate and heart were things that were going to give Jones hell, Jirov would have been a very tough fight for a guy who was not interested in fighting.

Joe Mesi's superior boxing skills made Jirov look like a rank amateur. Jones would completely dominate Jirov, 10 rounds to 2.

I would lean the other way in this matchup... A fresh Jirov was going to throw nearly 1000 punches and half of them would have gone to the body...I used to dream of this matchup because Jirov would have been an opponent that would have simply let his hands go against Roy. Tarver never relly let his hands go consistently and look what happened when Johnson showed up with nothing more than heart and workrate...he annihilated Jones! Jirov may have been beaten by the slicker Jones but in order for that too happen we would have had to see Roy's Heart...something not everyone thinks they have seen!

Roy by UD. Just too much speed for Jirov to handle.