Jirov -145
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> On April 26, two of the best fighters in the world will be colliding in a title fight. However, very few people seem truly interested. This fight will be taking place at 190 pounds, for the Cruiserweight title. This unheralded weight class is often over looked, regardless of the fact that it has some very talented fighters. Many do not follow this division because it sometimes resembles the heavyweight division in slow speed and lack of energy, despite the fighters’ smaller size. The cruiserweight division has also tended to be a transitional division; a place to stop and fight for a while on the way to moving into the heavyweight division from a lower weight. This causes the cruiserweight division to lose its best fighters to the chance for huge paydays and the prestige of the heavyweight division. The cruiserweight division has become so anonymous that many fighters actually choose to bypass it completely on their way up to heavyweight. Many of the smaller heavyweights could have become dominant cruiserweight champions, and breathed some life into the division; fighters like Michael Moorer, Chris Byrd, and Joe Mesi. Few, however, are willing to take that risk.
The two fighters meeting on the 26th have traveled very different roads to reach this point. Vassily Jirov has been a cruiserweight for basically his entire career. He is a fairly large cruiserweight, but would be a very small heavyweight. For this reason he has remained in the cruiserweight division, and will likely do so as long as he can still make weight. The other fighter, James Toney, has been in many different divisions, from middleweight to heavyweight, fighting many top ranked fighters along of the way. For the time being he seems to have settled in the cruiserweight division and is now challenging for, what many consider to be, the true cruiserweight title.
Lets break it down…
Physical: Jirov stands at 6’1, with a reach of 74 inches. He is a well-built cruiserweight, who is neither stocky, nor lanky. He is just solid, strong, and also a southpaw. Toney is about 5’11, depending on whom you ask. For a cruiserweight he is a bit stocky, and has often carried some extra body fat into the ring. Jirov has a serious size advantage and has historically been the more fit of the two fighters.
Skills and Style: Jirov is not the prototypical southpaw. He is not a slick moving fighter as are many other southpaws. He is a straightforward, in-your-face fighter, who will pressure his opponents over the course of a fight, with a strong emphasis on body punching. Toney, who fights in conventional stance, is ironically the trickster here. He is highly skilled at setting traps, pulling fighters in, and throwing crushing counterpunches.
Resume: Jirov has amassed a record of 31-0, with 27 wins by KO. Over the course of developing this impressive record he has gained several titles. In 1998 he won the WBC International Cruiserweight Title. In 1999 he won the WBC Continental Americas Cruiserweight title. Later that year he won his IBF Cruiserweight title, which he still holds today. Toney has had a far longer and more diverse journey. In 1991 he won the IBC Junior Middleweight title. In that same year he moved to 160 pounds and won the IBF middleweight title. In 1993 he gained the IBF super Middleweight title. In 1995 he won the USBA and WBU Light Heavyweight titles, as well as the WBU Cruiserweight title. In 1997 he added the IBO Light Heavyweight and Cruiserweight titles. Most recently, in 2001 he won the IBA Super Cruiserweight title.
Potent Notables:
Jirov has beaten some recognizable names in the cruiserweight division, but none that would be a well known, even to many boxing fans. In 1998 he beat Rich LaMontagne for his first fringe title. He won his first real title from “King” Arthur Williams, in 1999, and defended in against Saul Montana in 2000. Recently, he has beaten Julian Letterlough and Jorge Castro.
In this category there is no comparison. Toney has been in with some of the best fighters in the world in multiple divisions. In 1991 he beat both Michael Nunn and Reggie Johnson. He also holds a win over Iran Barkley in 1993. He received his first loss at the hands of Roy Jones in 1994. He also has two controversial losses to Montell Griffin. He also has a win over Saul Montana, and most recently beat top ten contender Jason Robinson.
What have you done for me lately?
Jirov’s last five fights have been wins over Alex Gonzales, Terry McGroom, Adolpho Washington, Julian Letterlough, and Jorge Castro. Nothing special about this list of foes. Castro, who had a fantastic record of 120-7-3, is an excellent fighter who is a bit past his prime and certainly should not be fighting at 190 pounds. Letterlough is a huge puncher, but had moved up from Light Heavyweight to challenge for the title, and was simply too small.
Toney last fives fights were against Saul Montana, Wesley Martin, Sione Asipeli, Michael Jones, and Jason Robinson. All of them except for the most recent, against Robinson, were held above the 190 pound cruiserweight limit. Four of the five were won by knockout, the one exception being a decision win over hard chinned journeyman Asipeli. Nothing too impressive about this bunch either, but his win over Robinson was very explosive.
The Common Denominator
Toney and Jirov have four opponents in common.
Saul Montana: Montana was a decent, hard-hitting cruiserweight, who now campaigns at heavyweight. He has recently defeated heavyweight prospect China Smith twice. In 2001 Toney needed only two rounds to TKO Montana. In 2000 Jirov took nine rounds to achieve the same ends.
Adolpho Washington: Washington is a basic journeyman that wanders the 190-200 pound range. Jirov won a unanimous decision over Washington in 2001. Toney scored a tenth round TKO two years earlier.
Terry McGroom: I Honestly know very little about this guy, but he had a pretty decent record of 18-1 when he fought Toney in 2000. Toney won a majority decision over McGroom. Jirov beat McGroom by knockout in one round a year later.
Earl Butler: Butler is another journeyman. Toney beat him by TKO in four rounds in 1996. Jirov won by KO in two.
Predictions:
At face value this appears to be a common type of matchup; the smaller, lighter, more skilled and experienced fighter is moving up in weight to challenge for a title at a higher weight. However, there is far more to this match. While Toney is most definitely the more skilled of the two, Jirov is also very well schooled. He was an Olympic gold medallist, and has shown serious offensive prowess.
And while Toney is easily fighting far above the weights of his previous glory, he actually has moved down in weight for this fight. Until recently he had been facing heavyweights. Also, although Jirov is considered to be the punched of the two, Toney may actually have better single punch power, while Jirov relies on volume punches to wear is opponents down.
So do not expect Toney to totally outclass and out skills Jirov. Jirov is an excellent fighter. At the same time, Jirov will not be able to intimidate Toney with his size, as Toney has fought at higher weights than this. He may not be able to simply overpower Toney, as Toney carries a pretty solid punch.
The last variable is fitness. Jirov has been known to have a bit of trouble making weight from time to time, but nothing too serious. Toney on the other hand has ballooned up between fights, which is what caused him to fluctuate weight classes throughout his career. That can take its toll on the body. At the same time, Jirov loves to throw to the body, and Toney might be a bit soft there.
With all this taken into consideration, I am picking Jirov. I see Jirov pressuring Toney throughout the fight, forcing his pace on the fight. All the while Toney will be allowing Jirov to so this to land his counters. Toney will land solid counters all fight long, but probably not enough to take most rounds. All the while, Jirov will be landing to the body, slowing Toney down just enough to keep him on the ropes and keep the countering opportunities to a minimum. Look for both fighters to take a beating, and moments where both of them may be very badly shaken. In the end I think Jirov will win a close decision, or a late TKO if Toney is not in top shape.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
