Comments Thread For: Boxing Without Boxing: Vassiliy Jirov vs. James Toney - 04/26/2003

[Kannabis Kid]

One of my favorite throwback fights James Toney is still one of my favorite fighters I just rewatched it again 2 weeks ago they got the full fight on YouTube I just wish the quality was a little better lol but still a great fight that 12th round was something else I just hear Emmanuel Steward full of emotion haha.

[champion4ever]

Didn’t ruin anything.

Jirov was nothing special before or after.

You know you are absolutely correct. He wasn't shit before James Toney defeated him. He was only a 1996 Olympic Gold medalist at the Light heavyweight division and an undefeated IBF Cruiserweight titleholder for four years. I agree that there was nothing ever special about him as a fighter. I am very sorry. I misspoke

[champion4ever]

What made this fight so special for James Toney is because it was his career defining victory. Many boxing fans, media and experts alike doubted him and thought that he was finished and washed up by this time of his career.

They made him the underdog going into this fight because he was a lot older and fighting a man who was much younger, stronger and larger than himself. He had had weight issues for the majority of his boxing career but yet he proved his detractors all wrong.

[klev1]

The thing I remember the most about this fight was the famous 3 words Emanuel Steward said during the 12th round. "Oh. My. God".

This fight was so brutal. Still one of my favorite fights of all time.

[ShoulderRoll]

The thing I remember the most about this fight was the famous 3 words Emanuel Steward said during the 12th round. "Oh. My. God".

This fight was so brutal. Still one of my favorite fights of all time.

Round 12:

[Sid-Knee]

It was a great fight. The back and forth was from start to finish. At the end I had Toney shading it by a point. But you could see by the usual disgusting score cards that no matter what he wasn't leaving the US with his belt.

[Southpawology]

Jirov had some of the most insane training methods i ever heard of for a boxer

[2Shotz]

Love this fight. Both men were only interested in winning! Still remember it’s air date back in 2003 and having a hunch this was gonna be a special night.

[aboutfkntime]

yep that was great fight, brutal non stop action back and forth

I definitely agree with the guys who had it closer than the judges

nobody was confident, even after the knockdown

[Fat_asian]

Wow what a good read! I love the break in one of the later rounds how roach says " jt you lost that round." James replied "shytt, fawk!!!" And jirov never taking a seat until the last round. Hearing that his trainers dropped him off in water and made him swim back or put him in a room of barking dogs trying to run away from them! Jirovs corner kept telling him to push more and more offense you know what I'm saying?