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

[ShoulderRoll]

Well no actually Howard Davis Jr is used as the prime example of why speed and speed alone is not an attribute that will take you far.

Howard Davis Jr a special fighter? Please. Stop it.

Jirov did nothing as a pro, that’s a fact. Who did Jirov beat?

He’s an average fighter at best.

If you win the Olympic gold medal, the Val Barker for being the best fighter in the Olympics, and get credit for having some of the fastest hands ever? You have to be at least a little bit special.

His career didn't reach spectacular heights but that wasn't because he lacked special attributes. By his own admission he simply lost the desire and drive to be a fighter.

[champion4ever]

Ok but who did he beat?

Ok, before I answer, now name me some of those good contemporary Cruiserweights who were fighting in the same weight division as him that he ducked and didn't fight? There were none because he was a Cruiserweight for Christ's sake.

He fought in one of the weakest divisions in the sport. He had no good competition unless a Roy Jones or an Antonio Tarver would have moved up in weight to challenge him like James Toney did.

[boogbx]

Didn’t ruin anything.

Jirov was nothing special before or after.

Jirov was special at Cruiser, he moved up to HW and it was too
Much of a jump getting beat by Messi, Moorer and forgot who else.

No shame being outgunned 20lbs north of your natural limit.

[_Rexy_]

One of my all time favorite fights. Glad history is giving it the platform it deserves.


The twelfth round where Manny Steward and Jim Lampley stopped calling the fight and just became cheering fans is all that needs to be said. Fight was a classic.

[_Rexy_]

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?

That became an ongoing joke between me and a few friends. Jirov comes back to his corner after throwing 120 punches "I need you to throw more! You can't just stand in front Jack! Throw more punches and move your head!!" next round Jirov comes back after throwing 150 punches "I need you to throw more, son!"

[_Rexy_]

Well no actually Howard Davis Jr is used as the prime example of why speed and speed alone is not an attribute that will take you far.

Howard Davis Jr a special fighter? Please. Stop it.

Jirov did nothing as a pro, that’s a fact. Who did Jirov beat?

He’s an average fighter at best.

Some would argue that winning a world championship and defending it 11 times is doing something as pro...

[_Rexy_]

Jirov was special at Cruiser, he moved up to HW and it was too
Much of a jump getting beat by Messi, Moorer and forgot who else.

No shame being outgunned 20lbs north of your natural limit.

That was it. He had three losses. Toney, Messi and Moorer.

[Fat_asian]

That became an ongoing joke between me and a few friends. Jirov comes back to his corner after throwing 120 punches "I need you to throw more! You can't just stand in front Jack! Throw more punches and move your head!!" next round Jirov comes back after throwing 150 punches "I need you to throw more, son!"

That's funny man, you know what I'm saying.

[Fat_asian]

Jirov wasn't pushing a frenetic pace, but he was pushing jt faster than he was used to. Ricky hatton pushed a faster pace, then again he's not a cruiser weight. (Against Floyd)

[IronDanHamza]

If you win the Olympic gold medal, the Val Barker for being the best fighter in the Olympics, and get credit for having some of the fastest hands ever? You have to be at least a little bit special.

His career didn't reach spectacular heights but that wasn't because he lacked special attributes. By his own admission he simply lost the desire and drive to be a fighter.

No you don’t.

Amateur boxing and Professional boxing are damn near different sports.

Howard Davis Jr is not a special fighter. I’ve never even heard something like that said in my life. He had extremely fast hands and that’s pretty much about it.

Jirov is not only not special but dead average - As a pro.