Jirov's Career - What Went Wrong

[Khmelnytsky]

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

[bsrizpac]

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 career

I think he was a badass. I'm a big fan. I think going to heavyweight was what did it. He was not a heavyweight.

Toney was too good for him, but I think he could have still dominated at CW other than Toney.

[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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[J.R.]

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.