Vassiliy Jirov


Vassiliy Valeryevich Jirov, sometimes known as Vasily Zhirov, is a Kazakhstani former professional boxer who competed from 1997 to 2009, and held the IBF cruiserweight title from 1999 to 2003. As an amateur he won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics, as well as consecutive bronzes at the 1993 and 1995 World Championships, all in the light heavyweight division.

Amateur career

Jirov took up boxing in 1986 when he was 12, studying at the Balkhash Technical School. His first coach was Alexander Apachinsky. Jirov later recalled that:
From 1989 to 1991, he became the champion of the Kazakh SSR three times in a row. In 1990 he became the champion of the All-Union Spartakiad of Young Students and also won the USSR Youth Championship received a degree of Master of Sports of the USSR in boxing.
In 1991, Jirov, who was yet at the junior age class, didn't win the USSR Championship in Saratov however he received an invitation to the USSR youth team.
In 1994, Vassiliy moved to the light heavyweight division
In December 1996, Jirov travelled to the United States, where he signed a contract with boxing promoter Bob Arum and began his career as a professional boxer.

Highlights

International Junior Tournament, Tashkent, Uzbek SSR, December 1991:
European Junior Championships, Edinburgh, Scotland, April 1992:
World Championships, Tampere, Finland, May 1993:
World Cup, Bangkok, Thailand, June 1994:
Asian Games, Hiroshima, Japan, October 1994:
Chemistry Cup, Halle, Germany, March 1995:
Sweden Open, Stockholm, Sweden, 1996:
Korean Open, Seoul, South Korea, 1995:
World Championships, Berlin, Germany, May 1995:
Asian Championships, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, October 1995:
Moscow Open, Moscow, Russia, October 1995:
Chemistry Cup, Halle, Germany, February–March 1996:
Summer Olympics, Atlanta, Georgia, July–August 1996:
Jirov was awarded the Val Barker Trophy for outstanding performance at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
He finished his amateur career having 217 fights under his belt, with a record of 207 wins, 10 losses

Professional career

Jirov made his debut as a professional on 18 January 1997, with a two-round knockout of Vince Brown in Las Vegas. He won eleven fights that first year, all by knockout, including wins over Exum Speight and Art Jimmerson. In 1998, he won eight fights, six before the final bell. On 5 May he won the WBC's regional cruiserweight title with a 12-round decision over Rich La Montaigne, who became the first boxer to last the full distance against Jirov. On 5 December he once again fought in Ukrainian territory. In his first fight as a professional in Ukraine, he beat Alexander Vasiliev in Kiev by decision in eight rounds.

IBF cruiserweight champion

In 1999, Jirov was given his first world title try: In front of an HBO Boxing audience, he beat IBF world Cruiserweight champion Arthur Williams by a knockout in seven rounds at Biloxi, Mississippi, to become that organization's world cruiserweight champion.
For his first defense, he fought at the main supportive event at the Felix Trinidad-Oscar De La Hoya undercard on 18 September, retaining the crown with a ten-round knockout of Canadian Dale Brown.
In 2000, he beat Saul Montana by knockout in round nine to retain the world title on an Univision televised fight, and won two non-title bouts, including one over Esteban Pizarro at the Playboy mansion.
On 6 February 2001, Jirov went to Kazakhstan to defend his crown in his home-country for the first time. There, he retained the title with a first-round knockout of Álex González. He won three more fights that year, one a world title affair against Julian Letterlough.
In 2002 Jirov, then managed by the Sugar Ray Leonard promotion company, defended his crown once that year, beating former world Middleweight champion Jorge Castro of Argentina by a 12-round decision on 1 February at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix. Talks had begun about a fight of his against former multiple division world champion James Toney. However, negotiations took long and Jirov spent more than one year outside the ring, time in which the IBF threatened to take away recognition of Jirov as world champion if he did not defend his crown soon. As a result of these managerial problems, Jirov also moved from the SAR club gym, favored by his management, to Joe Diaz's Gym, near Downtown Phoenix.

Losing the title to Toney

Jirov and Toney finally met on 26 April 2003, and Jirov suffered his first career defeat, when he lost the IBF cruiserweight title to Toney by a 12-round unanimous decision. On 9 August Jirov came back, beating fringe contender Ernest Mateen by knockout in seven rounds.
On 6 November 2003 he won the NABO regional cruiserweight title with a six-round knockout of Joseph Kiwanuka in Phoenix. Jirov's next fight was against ex-heavyweight champion, Michael Moorer. Jirov was beaten by Moorer via TKO in the ninth round. Over the next six months, Jirov defeated Forrest Neal by knockout in round 3 and defeated Troy Beats by unanimous decision. His next fight was against former heavyweight and cruiserweight contender Orlin Norris. Jirov and Norris fought to a draw.
In his first return bout to the cruiserweight division he defeated Luke Munsen in a unanimous decision.
On 14 July 2007 Jirov defeated Kenny 'The Raven' Craven by TKO in second round of 10 round scheduled bout.
As a heavyweight, Jirov also lost to Joe Mesi by unanimous decision, after throwing a blow to Mesi that resulted in subdural bleeding near the fight's end. It also marked the downturn in Jirov's fighting career, and after a few more fights, he retired in 2009.

Post-fight career in boxing

Jirov lives in Arizona and works at the Scottsdale Boxing Club as a coach. Reflecting on his time as a fighter, Jirov said: “I travelled the world, got paid and kicked some ass.”

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
42Win38–3–1 Jonathan WilliamsTKO2, 2:5217 Oct 2009 Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, US
41Win37–3–1 Kenny CravenTKO2, 2:1814 Jul 2007 4 Bears Casino & Lodge, New Town, North Dakota, US
40Win36–3–1 Luke MunsenUD1020 Apr 2006 Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort Hotel, Worley, Idaho, US
39Draw35–3–1 Orlin Norris821 Jul 2005 Palace Indian Gaming Center, Lemoore, California, US
38Win35–3 Troy BeetsUD1014 May 2005 Coushatta Casino Resort, Kinder, Louisiana, US
37Win34–3 Forrest NealTKO3, 1:107 Apr 2005 Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, US
36Loss33–3 Michael MoorerTKO9, 2:089 Dec 2004 Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, USFor vacant WBA North American, WBA–NABA, and WBC Continental Americas heavyweight titles
35Loss33–2 Joe MesiUD1013 Mar 2004 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, US
34Win33–1 Joseph KiwanukaRTD6, 3:006 Nov 2003 Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, USWon vacant WBO–NABO cruiserweight title
33Win32–1 Ernest MateenTKO7, 1:097 Aug 2003 Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, US
32Loss31–1 James ToneyUD1226 Apr 2003 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, USLost IBF cruiserweight title
31Win31–0 Jorge CastroUD121 Feb 2002 Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, USRetained IBF cruiserweight title
30Win30–0 Julian LetterloughTKO8, 1:248 Sep 2001 Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, USRetained IBF cruiserweight title
29Win29–0 Adolpho WashingtonUD1020 Jul 2001 Memorial Civic Center, Canton, Ohio, US
28Win28–0 Terry McGroomKO1, 1:2224 Mar 2001 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, USRetained IBF cruiserweight title
27Win27–0 Alex GonzalesKO1, 1:356 Feb 2001 Baluan Sholak Sports Palace, Almaty, KazakhstanRetained IBF cruiserweight title
26Win26–0 Earl ButlerTKO2, 2:3529 Jul 2000 Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, US
25Win25–0 Esteban PizzarroKO2, 2:5919 May 2000 Playboy Mansion, Los Angeles, California, US
24Win24–0 Don NormandTKO125 Mar 2000 Seven Feathers Casino Resort, Canyonville, Oregon, US
23Win23–0 Saúl MontanaTKO9, 2:5512 Feb 2000 Bank of America Centre, Boise, Idaho, USRetained IBF cruiserweight title
22Win22–0 Dale BrownKO10, 2:5218 Sep 1999 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, US
21Win21–0 Arthur WilliamsTKO7, 1:595 Jun 1999 Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, USWon IBF cruiserweight title
20Win20–0 Onebo MaximeKO5, 2:4822 Apr 1999 Hilton Anatole, Dallas, Texas, USWon vacant WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight title
19Win19–0 Cesar Rendon1, 0:256 Mar 1999 Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, US
18Win18–0 Alexander VasilievUD85 Dec 1998 Palace of Sports, Kiev, Ukraine
17Win17–0 John KiserTKO8, 0:433 Oct 1998 Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, US
16Win16–0 Cliff NellonTKO3, 2:226 Aug 1998 Grand Casino Avoyelles, Marksville, Louisiana, US
15Win15–0 Rich LaMontagne125 May 1998 Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, USWon vacant WBC International cruiserweight title
14Win14–0 Jason WallerTKO1, 2:0014 Mar 1998 Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
13Win13–0 Trent SurrattTKO2, 2:5810 Feb 1998 Midnight Rodeo, Phoenix, Arizona, US
12Win12–0 Jason NicholsonTKO2, 2:3723 Jan 1998 Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, US
11Win11–0 Art JimmersonTKO2, 2:556 Dec 1997 Circus Maximus Showroom, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
10Win10–0 Quinton OsgoodTKO1, 2:1518 Oct 1997 Star of the Desert Arena, Primm, Nevada, US
9Win9–0 Calvin CombsTKO2, 1:1712 Sep 1997 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, US
8Win8–0 Dennis MatthewsTKO4, 1:475 Jul 1997 Isle of Capri Casino, Lake Charles, Louisiana, US
7Win7–0 Gesses MesganaTKO2, 2:2331 May 1998 Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
6Win6–0 Tyrone Armstead4, 3:0012 Apr 1997 Tropicana Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, US
5Win5–0 Calvin SmithTKO1 30 Mar 1997 Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, US
4Win4–0 Aljenon DeBoseTKO3, 2:548 Mar 1997 Convention Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, US
3Win3–0 Chuck MillerTKO4, 2:3812 Feb 1997 The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
2Win2–0 Exum SpeightTKO3, 2:0028 Jan 1997 Club Rio, Tempe, Arizona, US
1Win1–0 Vincent Brown2, 1:2918 Jan 1997 Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, US