View source for Vassiliy Jirov

{{Short description|Kazakhstani boxer (born 1974)}}
{{BLP sources|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox boxer
| name = Vassiliy Jirov
| image = Vassiliy Jirov 2005 stamp of Kazakhstan.jpg
| caption = Jirov on a Kazakhstani postage stamp
| realname = {{nowrap|Vassiliy Valeryevich Jirov}}
| nickname = The Tiger
| weight = {{plainlist|
*[[Cruiserweight (boxing)|Cruiserweight]]
*[[Heavyweight]]
}}
| height = 6 ft 2 in<ref name=jirovtoney>''[[HBO Sports]]'' tale of the tape prior to the [[James Toney]] fight.</ref>
| reach = 74 in<ref name=jirovtoney />
| nationality = [[Kazakhstan]]i
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|4|4|df=y}}<ref name=sr>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120302032128/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/zh/vasily-zhirov-1.html Vasily Zhirov]. sports-reference.com</ref>
| birth_place = [[Balkhash (city)|Balkhash]], [[Kazakh SSR]], [[Soviet Union]] (now Kazakhstan)<ref name=sr/>
| style = [[Southpaw stance|Southpaw]]
| total = 42
| wins = 38
| KO = 32
| losses = 3
| draws = 1
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalCountry | {{KAZ}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]] | [[Boxing at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Light heavyweight|Light heavyweight]]}} 
{{MedalCompetition | [[World Amateur Boxing Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[1993 World Amateur Boxing Championships|1993 Tampere]] | [[Middleweight]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[1995 World Amateur Boxing Championships|1995 Berlin]] | Light heavyweight}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Asian Games]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[1994 Asian Games|1994 Hiroshima]] | [[Boxing at the 1994 Asian Games#Light heavyweight|Light heavyweight]]}}
}}

'''Vassiliy Valeryevich Jirov''' ({{langx|ru|Васи́лий Вале́рьевич Жи́ров}}; born 4 April 1974), sometimes known as '''Vasily Zhirov''', is a [[Kazakhstan]]i former [[professional boxer]] who competed from 1997 to 2009, and held the [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]] [[cruiserweight (boxing)|cruiserweight]] title from 1999 to 2003.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dicker|first=Ron|date=2003-04-24|title=Plus: Boxing; Cruiserweight Tries to Make Name|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/24/sports/plus-boxing-cruiserweight-tries-to-make-name.html|access-date=2020-07-01|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> As an [[amateur boxing|amateur]] he won a gold medal at the [[1996 Olympics]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dennen|first=John|date=2015-07-07|title=Vassiliy Jirov looks back on fights with James Toney, Michael Moorer, his Olympic gold medal and more|url=https://www.boxingnewsonline.net/vassiliy-jirov-looks-back-on-fights-with-james-toney-michael-moorer-his-olympic-gold-medal-and-more/|access-date=2020-07-01|website=Boxing News|language=en-GB}}</ref> as well as consecutive bronzes at the [[1993 World Amateur Boxing Championships|1993]] and [[1995 World Amateur Boxing Championships|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 (Merited Trainer of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Master of Sports of the USSR). Jirov later recalled that:
{{Quote|I came to boxing after seeing the movie "''[[Rocky (film)|Rocky]]''", I was eager to be like Rocky. The first time in the ring was painful, I welcomed punches, there were bruises. I said that I will go through it, after all it's not so painful, not so sad, it could make life better. My first coach Alexander Ivanovich Apachinsky wanted me to grow up not just a boxer, but to grow up a man. He helped me doing that. He was a tough man, but if you look at life, at that energy of life, its pressure would simply eat you up. He taught me to go all the way, no matter what.}}
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 (4 fights, 4 victories, [[Moscow]],) and also won the USSR Youth Championship (4 fights, 4 victories, [[Donetsk]],) 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 (4 fights, 3 wins, 2nd place,) however he received an invitation to the USSR youth team.

In 1994, Vassiliy moved to the [[light heavyweight]] division (up to 81&nbsp;kg.)

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===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{gold1}} International Junior Tournament (Middleweight), [[Tashkent]], [[Uzbek SSR]], December 1991:
* (no data available)
{{gold1}} European Junior Championships (Middleweight), [[Edinburgh, Scotland]], April 1992:
*1/4: Defeated Thomas Hansvold (Norway) RSC 2
*1/2: Defeated Rickard Eckvall (Sweden) 12–6
*Finals: Defeated [[Sinan Şamil Sam]] (Turkey) 11–7
{{bronze3}} [[1993 World Amateur Boxing Championships|World Championships]] (Middleweight), [[Tampere, Finland]], May 1993:
*1/8: Defeated Francesco Passanante (Switzerland) RSC 3
*1/4: Defeated Andrey Khamula (Ukraine) 15–9
*1/2: Lost to [[Akin Kuloglu]] (Turkey) 2–9
[[Boxing World Cup|World Cup]] (Light heavyweight), [[Bangkok, Thailand]], June 1994:
*1/8: Defeated Haik Postolokyan (Armenia) 11–3
*1/4: Lost to Islam Arsangaliev (Russia) 4–12
{{bronze3}} [[Boxing at the 1994 Asian Games|Asian Games]] (Light heavyweight), [[Hiroshima, Japan]], October 1994:
*1/4: Defeated Asghar Ali (Pakistan) RSC
*1/2: Lost to [[Young-Sam Ko]] (South Korea) 10–17
{{gold1}} [[Chemistry Cup]] (Light heavyweight), [[Halle (Saale)|Halle, Germany]], March 1995:
*1/4: Defeated [[Sven Ottke]] (Germany) PTS
*1/2: Defeated [[Thomas Ulrich]] (Germany) by walkover
*Finals: Defeated Ulf Brezina (Germany) RET 1
{{gold1}} Sweden Open (Light heavyweight), [[Stockholm, Sweden]], 1996:
*Finals: Defeated Stephen Kirk (Ireland) RSC 2
{{col-2}}
{{gold1}} Korean Open (Light heavyweight), [[Seoul, South Korea]], 1995:
* (no data available)
{{bronze3}} [[1995 World Amateur Boxing Championships|World Championships]] (Light heavyweight), [[Berlin, Germany]], May 1995:
*1/8: Defeated Ervins Helmanis (Latvia) KO 2
*1/4: Defeated [[Ismael Koné (boxer)|Ismael Kone]] (Sweden) RSC 1
*1/2: Lost to [[Antonio Tarver]] (United States) 6–9
{{gold1}} [[Asian Boxing Championships|Asian Championships]] (Light heavyweight), [[Tashkent, Uzbekistan]], October 1995:
*1/4: Defeated Vitaliy Ilyushin (Turkmenistan) RET 2
*1/2: Defeated [[Ayoub Pourtaghi Ghoushchi]] (Iran) 10–1
*Finals: Defeated [[Lee Seung-bae]] (South Korea) 15–2
{{gold1}} Moscow Open (Light heavyweight), [[Moscow, Russia]], October 1995:
*Finals: Defeated [[Timur Ibragimov]] (Uzbekistan) by unanimous decision, 5–0
{{gold1}} Chemistry Cup (Light heavyweight), [[Halle (Saale)|Halle, Germany]], February–March 1996:
*1/4: Defeated [[Rostyslav Zaulychnyi]] (Ukraine) 12–1
*1/2: Defeated [[Ramón Garbey]] (Cuba) 18–10
*Finals: Defeated [[Thomas Ulrich]] (Germany) by walkover
{{gold1}} [[Boxing at the 1996 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]] (Light heavyweight), [[Atlanta, Georgia]], July–August 1996:
*1/16: Defeated [[Julio César González]] (Mexico) RSC 2
*1/8: Defeated [[Pietro Aurino]] (Italy) 18–3
*1/4: Defeated [[Troy Amos-Ross]] (Canada) 14–8
*1/2: Defeated [[Antonio Tarver]] (United States) 15–9
*Finals: Defeated [[Lee Seung-Bae]] (South Korea) 17–4
{{col-end}}
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 (no stoppages.)

==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 [[World Boxing Council|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 [[Kyiv]] by decision in eight rounds.

===IBF cruiserweight champion===
{{Main|Arthur Williams vs. Vassiliy Jirov}}
In 1999, Jirov was given his first world title try: In front of an [[HBO Boxing]] audience, he beat [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]] world Cruiserweight champion [[Arthur Williams (boxer)|Arthur Williams]] by a knockout in seven rounds at [[Biloxi, Mississippi|Biloxi]], [[Mississippi]], to become that organization's world cruiserweight champion.

For his first defense, he fought at the main supportive event at the [[Fight of the millennium|Felix Trinidad-Oscar De La Hoya]] undercard on 18 September, retaining the crown with a ten-round knockout of [[Canadians|Canadian]] [[Dale Brown (boxer)|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 (boxer)|Álex González]]. He won three more fights that year, one a world title affair against [[Julian Letterlough]] (knockout win in 8).

There were reports that Jirov's team and HBO were trying to negotiate a matchup against [[Roy Jones Jr.]], but those talks fell through. <ref>[http://a.espncdn.com/boxing/a/2002/0904/1427215.html ''There's No Stopping Roy Jones'']</ref>

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 (boxer)|Jorge Castro]] of [[Argentina]] by a 12-round decision on 1 February at the [[Celebrity Theater]] in [[Phoenix, Arizona|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===
{{main|Vassiliy Jirov vs. James 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 (April 20, 2006) 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 Dubai and is a coach at Boxing Golden Ring. Reflecting on his time as a fighter, Jirov said: “I travelled the world, got paid and kicked some ass.”<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.ringtv.com/540096-best-i-faced-vassiliy-jirov/ | work=Ring TV | title=Best I Faced: Vassiliy Jirov | date=23 July 2018}}</ref>

==Professional boxing record==
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|draws=1
|ko-wins=32
|ko-losses=1
|dec-wins=6
|dec-losses=2
}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round, time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|42
|{{yes2}}Win
|{{nowrap|38–3–1}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Jonathan Williams
|TKO
|2 (10), {{small|2:52}}
|17 Oct 2009
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, US}}
|
|-
|41
|{{yes2}}Win
|37–3–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Kenny Craven
|TKO
|2 (10), {{small|2:18}}
|14 Jul 2007
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|4 Bears Casino & Lodge, [[New Town, North Dakota]], US}}
|
|-
|40
|{{yes2}}Win
|36–3–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Luke Munsen
|UD
|10
|20 Apr 2006
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort Hotel, [[Worley, Idaho]], US}}
|
|-
|39
|{{draw}}Draw
|35–3–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Orlin Norris]]
|{{abbr|MD|Majority draw}}
|8
|21 Jul 2005
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Palace Indian Gaming Center]], [[Lemoore, California]], US}}
|
|-
|38
|{{yes2}}Win
|35–3
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Troy Beets
|UD
|10
|14 May 2005
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Coushatta Casino Resort]], [[Kinder, Louisiana]], US}}
|
|-
|37
|{{yes2}}Win
|34–3
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Forrest Neal
|TKO
|3 (10), {{small|1:10}}
|7 Apr 2005
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, US}}
|
|-
|36
|{{no2}}Loss
|33–3
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Michael Moorer]]
|TKO
|9 (12), {{small|2:08}}
|9 Dec 2004
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, US}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For vacant [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] North American, WBA–[[North American Boxing Association|NABA]], and WBC Continental Americas [[heavyweight]] titles}}
|-
|35
|{{no2}}Loss
|33–2
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Joe Mesi]]
|UD
|10
|[[Shane Mosley vs. Winky Wright|13 Mar 2004]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, US}}
|
|-
|34
|{{yes2}}Win
|33–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UGA}} Joseph Kiwanuka
|RTD
|6 (12), {{small|3:00}}
|6 Nov 2003
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, US}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won vacant [[World Boxing Organization|WBO]]–[[North American Boxing Organization|NABO]] cruiserweight title}}
|-
|33
|{{yes2}}Win
|32–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Ernest Mateen]]
|TKO
|7 (10), {{small|1:09}}
|7 Aug 2003
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Pechanga Resort & Casino]], Temecula, California, US}}
|
|-
|32
|{{no2}}Loss
|31–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[James Toney]]
|UD
|12
|[[Vassiliy Jirov vs. James Toney|26 Apr 2003]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Foxwoods Resort Casino]], [[Ledyard, Connecticut]], US}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Lost IBF cruiserweight title}}
|-
|31
|{{yes2}}Win
|31–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Jorge Castro (boxer)|Jorge Castro]]
|UD
|12
|1 Feb 2002
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Celebrity Theatre]], Phoenix, Arizona, US}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained IBF cruiserweight title}}
|-
|30
|{{yes2}}Win
|30–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Julian Letterlough]]
|TKO
|8 (12), {{small|1:24}}
|8 Sep 2001
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Lawlor Events Center]], [[Reno, Nevada]], US}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained IBF cruiserweight title}}
|-
|29
|{{yes2}}Win
|29–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Adolpho Washington]]
|UD
|10
|20 Jul 2001
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Canton Memorial Civic Center|Memorial Civic Center]], [[Canton, Ohio]], US}}
|
|-
|28
|{{yes2}}Win
|28–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Terry McGroom]]
|KO
|1 (12), {{small|1:22}}
|[[Oscar De La Hoya vs. Arturo Gatti|24 Mar 2001]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[MGM Grand Garden Arena]], Paradise, Nevada, US}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained IBF cruiserweight title}}
|-
|27
|{{yes2}}Win
|27–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|PUR}} Alex Gonzales
|KO
|1 (12), {{small|1:35}}
|6 Feb 2001
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|KAZ}} {{small|[[Baluan Sholak Sports Palace]], [[Almaty]], Kazakhstan}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained IBF cruiserweight title}}
|-
|26
|{{yes2}}Win
|26–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Earl Butler
|TKO
|2 (10), {{small|2:35}}
|[[Kostya Tszyu vs. Julio César Chávez|29 Jul 2000]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum|Veterans Memorial Coliseum]], Phoenix, Arizona, US}}
|
|-
|25
|{{yes2}}Win
|25–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|PUR}} Esteban Pizzarro
|KO
|2 (10), {{small|2:59}}
|19 May 2000
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Playboy Mansion]], [[Los Angeles]], California, US}}
|
|-
|24
|{{yes2}}Win
|24–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Don Normand
|TKO
|1
|25 Mar 2000
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Seven Feathers Casino Resort]], [[Canyonville, Oregon]], US}}
|
|-
|23
|{{yes2}}Win
|23–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|MEX}} [[Saúl Montana]]
|TKO
|9 (12), {{small|2:55}}
|12 Feb 2000
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Bank of America Centre]], [[Boise, Idaho]], US}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained IBF cruiserweight title}}
|-
|22
|{{yes2}}Win
|22–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Dale Brown (boxer)|Dale Brown]]
|KO
|10 (12), {{small|2:52}}
|[[Oscar De La Hoya vs. Félix Trinidad|18 Sep 1999]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Mandalay Bay Events Center]], Paradise, Nevada, US}}
|
|-
|21
|{{yes2}}Win
|21–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Arthur Williams (boxer)|Arthur Williams]]
|TKO
|7 (12), {{small|1:59}}
|[[Arthur Williams vs. Vassiliy Jirov|5 Jun 1999]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, US}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won [[list of IBF world champions#Cruiserweight|IBF cruiserweight title]]}}
|-
|20
|{{yes2}}Win
|20–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|CIV}} Onebo Maxime
|KO
|5 (12), {{small|2:48}}
|22 Apr 1999
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Hilton Anatole]], [[Dallas, Texas]], US}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won vacant WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight title}}
|-
|19
|{{yes2}}Win
|19–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|MEX}} Cesar Rendon
|{{abbr|KO|Knockout}}
|1 (8), {{small|0:25}}
|6 Mar 1999
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Fantasy Springs Resort Casino]], [[Indio, California]], US}}
|
|-
|18
|{{yes2}}Win
|18–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|RUS}} Alexander Vasiliev
|UD
|8
|[[Wladimir Klitschko vs. Ross Puritty|5 Dec 1998]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UKR}} {{small|[[Palace of Sports, Kyiv|Palace of Sports]], [[Kyiv]], Ukraine}}
|
|-
|17
|{{yes2}}Win
|17–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} John Kiser
|TKO
|8 (10), {{small|0:43}}
|[[Genaro Hernández vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr.|3 Oct 1998]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Las Vegas Hilton]], [[Winchester, Nevada]], US}}
|
|-
|16
|{{yes2}}Win
|16–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Cliff Nellon
|TKO
|3 (8), {{small|2:22}}
|6 Aug 1998
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Grand Casino Avoyelles, [[Marksville, Louisiana]], US}}
|
|-
|15
|{{yes2}}Win
|15–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Rich LaMontagne
|{{abbr|UD|Unanimous decision}}
|12
|5 May 1998
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Grand Casino Biloxi|Grand Casino]], [[Biloxi, Mississippi]], US}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won vacant [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] International [[cruiserweight (boxing)|cruiserweight]] title}}
|-
|14
|{{yes2}}Win
|14–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Jason Waller
|TKO
|1, {{small|2:00}}
|14 Mar 1998
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US}}
|
|-
|13
|{{yes2}}Win
|13–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Trent Surratt
|TKO
|2 (8), {{small|2:58}}
|10 Feb 1998
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Midnight Rodeo, [[Phoenix, Arizona]], US}}
|
|-
|12
|{{yes2}}Win
|12–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Jason Nicholson
|TKO
|2 (10), {{small|2:37}}
|23 Jan 1998
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Grand Casino Tunica|Grand Casino]], [[Tunica, Mississippi]], US}}
|
|-
|11
|{{yes2}}Win
|11–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Art Jimmerson]]
|TKO
|2 (10), {{small|2:55}}
||[[Oscar De La Hoya vs. Wilfredo Rivera|6 Dec 1997]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Circus Maximus Showroom]], Atlantic City, New Jersey, US}}
|
|-
|10
|{{yes2}}Win
|10–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Quinton Osgood
|TKO
|1 (8), {{small|2:15}}
|18 Oct 1997
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Star of the Desert Arena]], [[Primm, Nevada]], US}}
|
|-
|9
|{{yes2}}Win
|9–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Calvin Combs
|TKO
|2 (8), {{small|1:17}}
|12 Sep 1997
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Caesars Palace]], Paradise, Nevada, US}}
|
|-
|8
|{{yes2}}Win
|8–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Dennis Matthews
|TKO
|4 (6), {{small|1:47}}
|5 Jul 1997
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Isle of Capri Casino]], [[Lake Charles, Louisiana]], US}}
|
|-
|7
|{{yes2}}Win
|7–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|ETH}} Gesses Mesgana
|TKO
|2 (8), {{small|2:23}}
|31 May 1997
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Etess Arena]], [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]], US}}
|
|-
|6
|{{yes2}}Win
|6–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Tyrone Armstead
|{{abbr|RTD|Corner retirement}}
|4 (6), {{small|3:00}}
|12 Apr 1997
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Tropicana Las Vegas]], Paradise, Nevada, US}}
|
|-
|5
|{{yes2}}Win
|5–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Calvin Smith
|TKO
|1 (4)
|30 Mar 1997
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Mohegan Sun Arena]], [[Montville, Connecticut]], US}}
|
|-
|4
|{{yes2}}Win
|4–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Aljenon DeBose
|TKO
|3 (6), {{small|2:54}}
|8 Mar 1997
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Albuquerque Convention Center|Convention Center]], [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]], US}}
|
|-
|3
|{{yes2}}Win
|3–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Chuck Miller
|TKO
|4, {{small|2:38}}
|12 Feb 1997
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[The Theater at Madison Square Garden]], [[New York City, New York]], US}}
|
|-
|2
|{{yes2}}Win
|2–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Exum Speight
|TKO
|3 (6), {{small|2:00}}
|28 Jan 1997
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Club Rio, [[Tempe, Arizona]], US}}
|
|-
|1
|{{yes2}}Win
|1–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Vincent Brown
|{{abbr|TKO|Technical knockout}}
|2 (6), {{small|1:29}}
|[[Oscar De La Hoya vs. Miguel Ángel González|18 Jan 1997]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Thomas & Mack Center]], [[Paradise, Nevada]], US}}
|
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{sports links}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{s-text|style=background:#C1D8FF; font-weight: bold;|text=Regional boxing titles}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-vac|last=[[Juan Carlos Gómez]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[World Boxing Council|WBC]] International<br>[[cruiserweight (boxing)|cruiserweight]] champion
|years=5 May 1998 – 22 April 1999<br>Won Continental Americas title}}
{{s-vac|next=[[Wayne Braithwaite]]}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-vac|last=[[Elieser Castillo]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=WBC Continental Americas<br>cruiserweight champion
|years=22 April 1999 – June 1999<br>Vacated}}
{{s-vac|next=Jason Robinson}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-vac|last=Ravea Springs}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[World Boxing Organization|WBO]]–[[North American Boxing Organization|NABO]]<br>cruiserweight champion
|years=6 November 2003 – December 2003<br>Vacated}}
{{s-vac|next=Jermell Barnes}}
{{s-text|style=background:#C1D8FF; font-weight: bold;|text=World boxing titles}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Arthur Williams (boxer)|Arthur Williams]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of IBF world champions#Cruiserweight|IBF cruiserweight champion]]
|years=[[Arthur Williams vs. Vassiliy Jirov|5 June 1999]] – 26 April 2003}}
{{s-aft|after=[[James Toney]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Val Barker Trophy winners}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Boxing Light Heavyweight}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jirov, Vassiliy}}
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Karaganda Region]]
[[Category:Olympic boxers for Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Boxers at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Southpaw boxers]]
[[Category:International Boxing Federation champions]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in boxing]]
[[Category:Asian Games bronze medalists in boxing]]
[[Category:Boxers at the 1994 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Kazakhstani male boxers]]
[[Category:IBA Men's World Boxing Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Asian Games bronze medalists for Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Asian Games boxers for Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1994 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Light-heavyweight boxers]]
[[Category:Heavyweight boxers]]
[[Category:World cruiserweight boxing champions]]
[[Category:Kazakhstani people of Russian descent]]
[[Category:Converts to Islam]]