Jirov's Career - What Went Wrong

I guess it is a matter of perspective, he won a Gold medal, CW champ, fight of the year in 03, 37 - 3 with (30KO) definitely isn't a bad resume, i just think he could of been so much more Early career he seemed to have everything, even a defense he'd bob n' weave, move in and out, good footwork, good at gauging the distance Offense - had every punch in the book, always throw combos, one of the best body punchers period, great power he just seems to suffer from not getting enough oppertunity, not enough name fights if it wasn't for the Toney fight most wouldn't even know his name (If the Jones Jr fight had of happened around 03 i do think he would of been the man to KO Jones, he's a better version of Tarver, more pressure, harder hitter, body shots, just as big, and beat Tarver in Olympics, i wish Jones-Jirov had of happened) Also i think he fell into the same trap as Kostya, from the east with an amazing amateur pedigree and very very complete fighter i really do think not having a russian/Khazak type trainer and switching to a american (Tszyu aussie) his skill seemed to constantly deteriorate. Maybe in the pro ranks they were encouraged to focus on KO's to get the fan attention, media, etc and as a result let their tremendous talent fall by the wayside And while tszyu refocused and regained some of it (post Phillips - Mitchell II, Gonzalez) Jirov constantly decreased in overall ability the Toney fight isa good example, he chose to get into a shootout rather than box, use his size and reach, and gave Toney more counter punching oppertunities than he had to. This may also be a small thing but i do think it is an advantage speaking a foreign language in your corner the other fighter doesn't understand, your coach yelling out instructions in Russian during the round without your opponent knowing. Anyways i think Jirov was an amazing talent and i just wish he had gotten a few more big name fights and had a little more memorable career

Comments (16)

What ever happened to Jirov? Is he still boxing? Maybe he'll make a comeback..

17y ago

MANGLER

He had a ton taken outta him by Toney, then moved up to HW not what he once was.

17y ago

_Shawn

I agree, I doubt he would have been able to outbox Toney, the fight he fought was a very good fight but as you said, Toney was on that night. I just rewatched that fight. I don't think I have ever heard Emanuel Steward so into a fight before. The last round he was like OHHHHH! OHHHHH! OHHHHH!!!!!!! THATS IT!!!!!! LEFT HOOK!!!!!!! HES HURT!!!!!!! OHHHHH!!!!!! I think the two commentator format is the best broadcast format. Lampley and Steward broadcast this fight great.

17y ago

Khmelnytsky

yeah i would of love'd to have seen him stay at CW, i mean right now he's still only 34, had he dropped back down after moore, or never gone up in the first place. There is a whole slew of fighters i would of loved to see him fight Gomez Mormeck Bell Haye alot more potential wars And no opinions on the whole Eurasian fighter/American trainer thing, why does their skill drop off ?

17y ago

Tysonisgod

There are fights, where you lose your prime in one bout, you are never the same a peice of you stays there.Fights like Toney-Jirov, Taylor vs Chavez, Gatti vs Ward, Corrales vs Castillio, fights like these were the punishment was brutal and destroyed the fighters in the fights, after that he was on the downside! You could even say Toney was never the same, his defence really started to leak after this fight

17y ago

Left_Hook_Tua

He put on too much weight to fight at HW. I don't think Jirov is finished even now, he looked decent against the journeyman he fought last year at cruiserweight, but hasn't fought since then. manchine , who do you think won mesi-jirov?

17y ago

TheGreatA

He put on too much weight to fight at HW. I don't think Jirov is finished even now. He looked decent against the journeyman he fought last year at cruiserweight, but he hasn't fought since then.

17y ago

Left_Hook_Tua

very underrated fighter. i think he was probably the best of the cruiser champs back in the days jirov/hill/gomez/nelson era. yes. i think he would have beat juan carlos. call me crazy. the tough fight with toney then followed by several more tough fights against much bigger guys at heavy really hurt him. he was still competitive at heavy though which says a lot about him though being outgunned...... great fighter.

17y ago

JR4841

His main mistake was moving up to heavyweight. He was way too small and wasn't quick enough for that division. I mean just look at all the legit contenders that popped up at cruiser when he left including David Haye. Had Jirov stayed in that division he would've had great competition on which to build his resume on for years! P.S. Jirov NEVER had a good defense.

17y ago

Silencers

Nup. No way he could have. He said afterward that it wasn't the right game plan and they should have come in and boxed him, but really, he hadn't fought like he had as an amateur for years and had been fighting that way for basically his whole pro career. He would not have had the same type of stamina and would not have been nearly as effective as he ended up being. It was a very close fight with the way he fought it and I think that if he had tried to box instead he would have been tagged over and over with that right that Toney was landing and it's quite possible that he could have even been stopped. If Toney had had the room and space to move and throw his combinations more effectively he may have been landing that combo of the jab, straight right and then following it up with a left hook as Jirov squares up so frequently and whenever he was on the outside Toney was landing that constantly and very hard. The only reason he wasn't landing it so much was because Jirov wasn't boxing but fighting and brawling on the inside and not giving Toney the room. I really love that fight. I think it's up there with my favourite fights to watch of any. Yeah, what made Jirov so effective in that fight was him not letting Toney breathe, once Toney got distance, he was much more comfortable, Jirov fought to the best of his ability that night but Toney just wouldn't be denied. Great fight. Jirov did try to change back his style a little when he moved up to heavyweight but he couldn't even outbox Mesi, he did much better when he was aggressive in that fight but he only became more aggressive in the last few rounds which was too late. He was outboxing Moorer though until he walked right into a big left hand.

17y ago

BennyST

I agree, I doubt he would have been able to outbox Toney, the fight he fought was a very good fight but as you said, Toney was on that night. Nup. No way he could have. He said afterward that it wasn't the right game plan and they should have come in and boxed him, but really, he hadn't fought like he had as an amateur for years and had been fighting that way for basically his whole pro career. He would not have had the same type of stamina and would not have been nearly as effective as he ended up being. It was a very close fight with the way he fought it and I think that if he had tried to box instead he would have been tagged over and over with that right that Toney was landing and it's quite possible that he could have even been stopped. If Toney had had the room and space to move and throw his combinations more effectively he may have been landing that combo of the jab, straight right and then following it up with a left hook as Jirov squares up so frequently and whenever he was on the outside Toney was landing that constantly and very hard. The only reason he wasn't landing it so much was because Jirov wasn't boxing but fighting and brawling on the inside and not giving Toney the room. I really love that fight. I think it's up there with my favourite fights to watch of any.

17y ago

Silencers

Yep, sad ot say it was one of those losses that just ruin a fighter. It may not have been the right game plan but I don't think he could have won it any other way to be honest. Toney was on that night and I think Jirov boxing would have just made it easier on him. All that aside, it was a very harsh loss which definitely took it out of him. I agree, I doubt he would have been able to outbox Toney, the fight he fought was a very good fight but as you said, Toney was on that night.

17y ago

BennyST

jirov was never the same fighter after toney knocked him down and took his title. even if he'd stayed at cruiser, just knowing that toney had his number ruined him As mentioned above, Jirov was not the same fighter after his loss to Toney, the loss to Moorer was pretty much what put him on the backburner. Yep, sad ot say it was one of those losses that just ruin a fighter. It may not have been the right game plan but I don't think he could have won it any other way to be honest. Toney was on that night and I think Jirov boxing would have just made it easier on him. All that aside, it was a very harsh loss which definitely took it out of him.

17y ago

Silencers

As mentioned above, Jirov was not the same fighter after his loss to Toney, the loss to Moorer was pretty much what put him on the backburner.

17y ago

phallus

One thing went wrong and that was Toney. He fell badly after that fight. It was very brutal as well and took more out of him than just his will power. jirov was never the same fighter after toney knocked him down and took his title. even if he'd stayed at cruiser, just knowing that toney had his number ruined him

17y ago

BennyST

One thing went wrong and that was Toney. He fell badly after that fight. It was very brutal as well and took more out of him than just his will power.

17y ago