About Me
Vassiliy "The Tiger" Jirov is a professional Kazakh boxer and former IBF cruiserweight champion. Jirov won the Olympic gold medal at Atlanta in 1996. Jirov made his debut as a professional on January 18, 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 May 5 1998, 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 December 5 1998, he once again fought in Ukrainian territory. In his first fight as a professional in Ukraine, he beat Alex Vassilev in Kiev by decision in eight.
In 1999, Jirov became the IBF world Cruiserweight champion: In front of an HBO Boxing audience, he beat IBF world Cruiserweight champion Arthur Williams by a knockout in seven rounds at Biloxi, Mississippi.
For his first defense, he fought at the main supportive event at the Felix Trinidad-Oscar De La Hoya undercard on September 18, 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 February 6, 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 Ãlex González. He won three more fights that year, one a world title affair against Julian Letterlough (knockout win in 8).
In 2002 Jirov he was able to defend his crown once that year, beating former world Middleweight champion Jorge Castro of Argentina by a 12 round decision on February 1 at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix.
On November 6, 2003, he won the NABO regional cruiserweight title with a six round knockout of Joseph Kiwanuka in Phoenix. 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 (April 20, 2006) he defeated Luke Munsen in a unanimous decision.
On July 14, 2007 Jirov defeated Kenny 'The Raven' Craven by TKO in second round of 10 round scheduled bout.
His record stands at 37 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw with 30 wins by knockout.
