This will without question be another grueling bout for Jirov. I expect Jirov to take lots of punishment in this fight. I think he may be around for the mid to late rounds at least. IMO, it is not outside the realm of reality that this fight could go the distance. Jirov has proven that he can take many punches. I believe that he may be able to withstand Mesi's punches for at least 6 rounds. And if so, conditioning problems could set in for Mesi. And that is what may allow the fight to go into the later rounds or the distance. I just don't feel comfortable betting that Mesi will take him out early. If it were not for the power differential, I would pick Jirov. However, since Mesi possesses good power, I am on the fence for this one at the present time. I will wait for the props on this one.
some comments from other boxing aficionados.....
"Team Mesi understands matchmaking and marketing.
James Toney just gave Jirov the fight of the year! Then Toney goes on to KO Holyfield. If Mesi blows Jirov away, then why shouldn't he get the same props as Toney? In boxing, percpetion often defines reality.
Inside info. Toney is not a puncher at heavy! Mesi is. Jirov's chin is over-rated. Its merely good at cruiser. I've seen average competition sting him . Once Mesi connects, this fight will end. Defensively Jirov is very poor, so I see a quick night. Mesi wins via Ko in round THREE.
A huge draw, and stylistically interesting match up paper. I just think the results in the ring will be one-sided. As always time will tell. You guys really think Jirov has a shot?
Jirov to me was a champion in boxing weakest division. He's past his prime, and to be honest does not have a heayweight's frame. If he comes in at 210, the extra weight will just slow him down. As a puncher, his power was good at crusier, but as a heavy, its going to be mediocre at best.
..............................................
I didn't expect this, but Vassily Jirov has apparently replaced Michael Moorer as Joe Mesi's opponent on the Mosley-Wright undercard on March 13. Whereas my first inclination was to put Mesi as a 4-1 favorite over the shot Moorer, I think that this is a very even matchup. Certainly Mesi's size and Jirov's poor defense will give Baby Joe some winning options, but the former Val Barker winner will undoubtably have an edge in speed and skills. Furthermore, by the looks of his frame, he will probably be a solid 215 in his heavyweight debut, and so the size difference won't be the major factor.
I like this fight for all parties. Mesi gets his best opponent yet without being in a hopeless situation. Jirov gets a chance to springboard into the heavyweight division (and if he loses, he can always return to cruiser). HBO gets a heavyweight they can market regardless of who wins. And finally, the fans get an intersting matchup that could go either way.
...............................................
Jirov by late TKO...Mesi will fade in later rounds. It is true that Jirov has been "stung" by average competition, but he is one of those who looks stung often, only to wind up beating the crap out of his opponent (all but two by KO, correct?). Saul Montana was a great example. Had Jirov "hurt" only to wind up being a KO highlight reel (devistating).
My guess is, Mesi's big fat body gets tired, Jirov can go all nite. It took a chin like Toneys (world class, perhaps top ten of all time) to finally cause Jirov to punch himself out. No other fighter has taken that kind of abuse and stood at the end. Also, remember, Jirov got back up. Mesi doesn't have the stamina to sustain that for 12 rounds.
............................
have to agree with the doctor on this one. Whenever I think of Jirov's chin I think of light-heavy Julian Letterlough hurting him with one punch, and former jr middleweight Jorge Castro stunning him briefly. Jirov has probably the best recuperative powers I have seen, but his chin is only good. If he tries to pile on the pressure the way he usually does, he will walk into a huge early shot. If he tries to win by jabbing, boxing, and outpointing, he will not push Mesi's conditioning, and so Joe will be in shape to land a big punch throughout the fight.
..............................................
Jirov is indeed a southpaw, although he tends to negate his advantages by squaring up. If Jirov holds off on the body attack and starts off against Mesi by jabbing and circling to the right, I can envision him winning some easy rounds. Of course, this one probably isn't going to the scorecards, so winning rounds is only an indirect goal.
"Team Mesi understands matchmaking and marketing.
James Toney just gave Jirov the fight of the year! Then Toney goes on to KO Holyfield. If Mesi blows Jirov away, then why shouldn't he get the same props as Toney? In boxing, percpetion often defines reality.
Inside info. Toney is not a puncher at heavy! Mesi is. Jirov's chin is over-rated. Its merely good at cruiser. I've seen average competition sting him . Once Mesi connects, this fight will end. Defensively Jirov is very poor, so I see a quick night. Mesi wins via Ko in round THREE.
A huge draw, and stylistically interesting match up paper. I just think the results in the ring will be one-sided. As always time will tell. You guys really think Jirov has a shot?
Jirov to me was a champion in boxing weakest division. He's past his prime, and to be honest does not have a heayweight's frame. If he comes in at 210, the extra weight will just slow him down. As a puncher, his power was good at crusier, but as a heavy, its going to be mediocre at best.
..............................................
I didn't expect this, but Vassily Jirov has apparently replaced Michael Moorer as Joe Mesi's opponent on the Mosley-Wright undercard on March 13. Whereas my first inclination was to put Mesi as a 4-1 favorite over the shot Moorer, I think that this is a very even matchup. Certainly Mesi's size and Jirov's poor defense will give Baby Joe some winning options, but the former Val Barker winner will undoubtably have an edge in speed and skills. Furthermore, by the looks of his frame, he will probably be a solid 215 in his heavyweight debut, and so the size difference won't be the major factor.
I like this fight for all parties. Mesi gets his best opponent yet without being in a hopeless situation. Jirov gets a chance to springboard into the heavyweight division (and if he loses, he can always return to cruiser). HBO gets a heavyweight they can market regardless of who wins. And finally, the fans get an intersting matchup that could go either way.
...............................................
Jirov by late TKO...Mesi will fade in later rounds. It is true that Jirov has been "stung" by average competition, but he is one of those who looks stung often, only to wind up beating the crap out of his opponent (all but two by KO, correct?). Saul Montana was a great example. Had Jirov "hurt" only to wind up being a KO highlight reel (devistating).
My guess is, Mesi's big fat body gets tired, Jirov can go all nite. It took a chin like Toneys (world class, perhaps top ten of all time) to finally cause Jirov to punch himself out. No other fighter has taken that kind of abuse and stood at the end. Also, remember, Jirov got back up. Mesi doesn't have the stamina to sustain that for 12 rounds.
............................
have to agree with the doctor on this one. Whenever I think of Jirov's chin I think of light-heavy Julian Letterlough hurting him with one punch, and former jr middleweight Jorge Castro stunning him briefly. Jirov has probably the best recuperative powers I have seen, but his chin is only good. If he tries to pile on the pressure the way he usually does, he will walk into a huge early shot. If he tries to win by jabbing, boxing, and outpointing, he will not push Mesi's conditioning, and so Joe will be in shape to land a big punch throughout the fight.
..............................................
Jirov is indeed a southpaw, although he tends to negate his advantages by squaring up. If Jirov holds off on the body attack and starts off against Mesi by jabbing and circling to the right, I can envision him winning some easy rounds. Of course, this one probably isn't going to the scorecards, so winning rounds is only an indirect goal.
Well I'll give it another shot; I'm going with
baby Joe@-185, over 8.5 rounds. I like the Mesi
win bet more than the over 8.5, but I think the
Mesi camp isn't going to continue to be KO crazy
going down the road. Jirov is cagy and tough and
I think HE thinks he can actually win here. I
feel -185 is a good value.
baby Joe@-185, over 8.5 rounds. I like the Mesi
win bet more than the over 8.5, but I think the
Mesi camp isn't going to continue to be KO crazy
going down the road. Jirov is cagy and tough and
I think HE thinks he can actually win here. I
feel -185 is a good value.
I think this is the perfect time to make some money. I know Jirov is a tough guy, but he was picked apart by Toney, just like Holyfield was. Toney is a great puncher, not a power puncher... On the other hand, Mesi is a power puncher, not a great puncher. Mesi packs the pop, just ask Monte Barrett, who was rocked a few times early in the fight, but used his motivation and boxing skills to take over the later rounds. I feel that the end of that fight, and the public perception that Mesi is just a marketed, white fighter, brings this line down to under -200. I will def. hit up Mesi in this one, probably big, and also the under.
I just see Jirov, doing the only thing he knows how to do, and thats come forward, and i see him eating a big left hook and a hard right plenty of times. I think Jirov is tough as nails, but Baby Joe will not sit back when he gets someone hurt. He likes to finish, and he will finish Jirov here in under 6 rounds.
I just see Jirov, doing the only thing he knows how to do, and thats come forward, and i see him eating a big left hook and a hard right plenty of times. I think Jirov is tough as nails, but Baby Joe will not sit back when he gets someone hurt. He likes to finish, and he will finish Jirov here in under 6 rounds.
at first blush,i`d have to say that past performance might indicate mesi early,jirov late.....
mesi usually dispatches the smaller guys within the first 3 or 4 rounds...but,jirov is such an unknown at heavy,it`s a pretty tough call...
not sure what we can draw from the toney/jirov and mesi/barrett bouts....mesi`s nothing like toney....and jirov is nothing like barrett...
jirov is at least as tall...and has a fairly decent sized frame...is a lefty....don`t see any lefty`s of note on the mesi ledger...there should be around a 15 lb weight difference(at least)...
but,jirov will be heavier than he`s ever been....his strength is his toughness,physical strength and his ability to sustain a high work rate..and his body punching,which means he`ll have to work inside......will the extra weight negatively affect his stamina?.....i was wrong about toney carrying the extra weight....maybe jirov thrives having the extra weight as toney did......
mesi`s staying power was not very good vs barrett...and no matter how you cut it,barrett`s not a top tier heavyweight...not even close,imo...
the rub for me is...
1)jirov has been hurt by other cruisers....but,to be fair,he didn`t go anywhere...mesi,even if you think he`s bogus,punches like a true heavyweight(and then some)...and is surprisingly quick early while he still has his stamina...
2)mesi`s handlers have been very careful up to this point....are they going to take a chance on killing the golden goose?....vs a blown up cruiser?...albeit a damned good one...
take a long look at mesi`s opponents...nothing stands out....didn`t even look that good vs barrett....and this one`s not in buffalo....
knowing how mesi struggled vs barrett late....knowing that jirov has the ability and stamina to hang tough late in fights...don`t you think mesi will try and get it done as quickly as possible?....
what good does it do mesi to get into a long,tough fight with a guy that has shown the ability to hang tough and be strong through 12 vs top opposition....much less 10(is this a ten or a 12?)...
can mesi change his style?...and why would he?...vs a smaller man?....
i gotta think mesi will jump on the lighter guy and try and finish it early...jirov is limited style-wise....he is what he is...he`ll be there....can he take mesi`s bombs early?
some tough questions....
mesi usually dispatches the smaller guys within the first 3 or 4 rounds...but,jirov is such an unknown at heavy,it`s a pretty tough call...
not sure what we can draw from the toney/jirov and mesi/barrett bouts....mesi`s nothing like toney....and jirov is nothing like barrett...
jirov is at least as tall...and has a fairly decent sized frame...is a lefty....don`t see any lefty`s of note on the mesi ledger...there should be around a 15 lb weight difference(at least)...
but,jirov will be heavier than he`s ever been....his strength is his toughness,physical strength and his ability to sustain a high work rate..and his body punching,which means he`ll have to work inside......will the extra weight negatively affect his stamina?.....i was wrong about toney carrying the extra weight....maybe jirov thrives having the extra weight as toney did......
mesi`s staying power was not very good vs barrett...and no matter how you cut it,barrett`s not a top tier heavyweight...not even close,imo...
the rub for me is...
1)jirov has been hurt by other cruisers....but,to be fair,he didn`t go anywhere...mesi,even if you think he`s bogus,punches like a true heavyweight(and then some)...and is surprisingly quick early while he still has his stamina...
2)mesi`s handlers have been very careful up to this point....are they going to take a chance on killing the golden goose?....vs a blown up cruiser?...albeit a damned good one...
take a long look at mesi`s opponents...nothing stands out....didn`t even look that good vs barrett....and this one`s not in buffalo....
knowing how mesi struggled vs barrett late....knowing that jirov has the ability and stamina to hang tough late in fights...don`t you think mesi will try and get it done as quickly as possible?....
what good does it do mesi to get into a long,tough fight with a guy that has shown the ability to hang tough and be strong through 12 vs top opposition....much less 10(is this a ten or a 12?)...
can mesi change his style?...and why would he?...vs a smaller man?....
i gotta think mesi will jump on the lighter guy and try and finish it early...jirov is limited style-wise....he is what he is...he`ll be there....can he take mesi`s bombs early?
some tough questions....
Jirov is the better and more skilled fighter here. Let me clarify a few things for you guys. Toney is a world class fighter and I think he can beat almost anyone in the heavyweight division right now. My only question is how he will do against the giants which is why its a shame the Mcline fight didnt go thru. Barett on the other hand is far from a world class fighter. As a matter of fact, he's pretty bad.
I forgot how tall both of these guys are and what they weighed in at for their last fight. I guess I can do a little research and look it up. But the size differential wont be that big here.
I dont know whats going on here but I actually agree totally with what Boxingfreak said. If Mesi dosent knock him out this is Jirovs fight. Maybe a possible hedge with Jirov and the under? Or one of those Mesi not by decision things? I wish Mesi was a bigger fav like 3-1 so I could pull the trigger on Jirov.
I dont really like Jirov all that much but he has proven that he can go toe to toe with a world class fighter (even though Toney is an ignorant moron). Mesi has proven that he can almost get beat by some nobody. So the question to me is how big a deal is the "heavyweight" thing?
I forgot how tall both of these guys are and what they weighed in at for their last fight. I guess I can do a little research and look it up. But the size differential wont be that big here.
I dont know whats going on here but I actually agree totally with what Boxingfreak said. If Mesi dosent knock him out this is Jirovs fight. Maybe a possible hedge with Jirov and the under? Or one of those Mesi not by decision things? I wish Mesi was a bigger fav like 3-1 so I could pull the trigger on Jirov.
I dont really like Jirov all that much but he has proven that he can go toe to toe with a world class fighter (even though Toney is an ignorant moron). Mesi has proven that he can almost get beat by some nobody. So the question to me is how big a deal is the "heavyweight" thing?
