Vassiliy Jirov vs Michael Moorer

I remember watching it live on the Best Damn Fights Period or something like that. lol, that fight sort of rejuvenated Moorers career and got him back on HBO against TUA. And we all know what happen there.

 

I am glad you bought this up. A rare gem indeed. Southpaw vs southpaw

 

Yes, a very nice fight.

 

I loved this fight and watch it live. I remember James Toney was a guest commentator for a few rounds and I remember Goose and Tutor were trying to hype a rematch between Jirov and Toney at heavyweight. I thought Jirov was definitely ahead but he simply jumped up to early after being caught and he didn't have his legs under him. Had he taken the eight count on his knees, I think he could have fought on and won the fight.

One ther thing about that fight, I remember the temperature in that arena was got awful hot. I remember Sean O'Grady commenting on how miserable the fight conditions were going into it which should have favored the swarming Jirov who was a tough as they came. It ended up being the last hurrah for both as Moorer needed to take extended time off due to injuries and couldn't capitalize on that last big win.

Jirov never really looked good again after that. He never shoukd have moved to heavyweight and he really missed out on what have been so e excellent cruiserweight fights with Mormeck and Haye. I think he definitely could have won another belt at cruiserweight but then again, he damn near best Messi which was a title eliminator. Had there been just 1 minute more in that fight, he would have stopped Messi and went on to fight Rahaman. I think Rahman would have decapitated him.

 

Yeah, this fight really hurt Jirov's career. I think had he won, he would have gotten that lucrative rematch with Toney at heavyweight but instead, he ended up fighting to a draw with Orlin Norris on the same network. After that, he faded away.

 

I don’t think having an active, aggressive style and a training routine storied for its intensity helped him as he got older.

 

I completely agree. The weird thing about Jirov was that he could really box. I remember watching several of his amateur fights and even his early pro fights and being impressed with his skills. Once he hooked up with Thell Torence, he committed fully to ab aggressive, swarming, body punching style. He had success with that style for awhile but I agree, it definitely shortened his career.

 

I remember his output being insane against Tarver.

 

Yeah, he ended winning the Val Barker award. Everyone thought Tarver was going to be the start of that Olympics. Tarver had dominated most of the international competitions going into the Olympics and had cruised to the semi's. I haven't watched it in awhile but I remember Tarver was winning and then Jirov hit the jets in the third round and simply outworked and exhausted Tarver.

That US team really underperformed in those games. Everyone but David Reid who shocked the world with a great right hand. Jirov and Reid were the story in 96'. With that said, Tarver ended uo with the better pro career.

 

I’m under the impression that Mayweather got robbed, but I never watched it.

 

double like
makes me want to watch toney-jirov again.
and moorer had a strong jab (i don't think holyfield expected that), even at heavyweight.

 

Mayweather should have won but it wasn't as outrageous as what happened to Roy Jones or Evander Holyfield in the Olympics. Floyd was an outstanding amateur but his style was definitely more suited for the pro game like most defensive minded counterpunchers. Outside volume boxers will always have the best style for Amateur boxing.