James Toney vs Vassily Jirov - Highlights (TACTICAL MASTERPIECE)

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April 26th, 2003. James “Lights Out” Toney took on the undefeated reigning IBF Cruiserweight Champion “The Tiger” Vassily Jirov in a bid to become Triple Crown World Champion in his 72nd professional bout.
Prefight records; Toney 65(42)-4-2, Jirov 31(27)-0.
In June 1999, Jirov lifted the IBF Cruiserweight Title via TKO7 over Arthur Williams and successfully retained his title 6x between February 2000 & February 2002.
For his 7th defense, he was up against the 15 year veteran James Toney who made his Cruiserweight debut back in December 1995 where he captured the WBU Continental Cruiserweight Title via KO2 over Greg Everett.
In August 2002, Toney defeated Jason Robinson via KO7 in an IBF Cruiserweight Title Eliminator to earn the right to fight for the IBF Cruiserweight Championship against the unbeaten Kazakhstani southpaw.
Entering his 1st world title opportunity at Cruiserweight, the 34 year old Toney who was the former IBF Middleweight & IBF Super Middleweight Champion had notable wins over the likes of Adolpho Washington, Reggie Johnson, Tim Littles, Tony Thornton, Freddie Delgado, Glenn Wolfe, Doug DeWitt, Saul Montana, Steve Little, Charles Williams, Merqui Sosa, Francesco Dell'Aquila, Iran Barkley, Michael Nunn, Anthony Hembrick (2x) & Mike McCallum (2x).
On the other hand, the 29 year old Jirov had triumphs over top oppositions in Adolpho Washington, Arthur Williams, Jorge Fernando Castro, Saul Montana, Dale Brown & Julian Letterlough.
Toney and Jirov produced a Cruiserweight classic where dazzling boxing skills, crafts and resilience were showcased in a battle filled with plenty of infighting and combination punching through 36 action-packed minutes.
In round 1, Jirov set the pace as the aggressor by dispensing at a high output upstairs and downstairs while Toney often counter-punched on his backfoot and fought off the ropes.
In round 2, Jirov was warned twice for hitting Toney below the beltline.
In round 3, Toney was clocked with a low blow that caused him to take a knee thus referee Steve Smoger called for a 5-minute break and warned Jirov that he will be penalized if he repeats the same infraction.
In round 8, JIrov was deducted a point after several warnings for punches south of the border.
In round 10, Toney wobbled Jirov with a left hook 5 seconds before the bell after getting the better of most of the exchanges in an explosive stanza.
In round 11, Jirov shook Toney with a right hook and landed the more effective punches in yet another amazing round.
In round 12, both traded ferociously despite being exhausted from the furious pace in one of the most memorable finales in the history of world title fights. Ultimately, the edge went to Toney who hurt Jirov a number of times before scoring a knockdown with a 4-punch salvo set up with a left hook to the liver with less than 20 seconds to go.
The gutsy Kazakhstani somehow made it to the final bell in a tremendous display of determination.
After 12 unforgettable rounds, James Toney was crowned the new IBF Cruiserweight Champion via UD12 to become the 25th Triple Crown World Champion in boxing history.
As for Vassily Jirov, it was the 1st setback in his 32 fight career.
However, the scores of 116-110 & 117-109 (2x) by the 3 judges were in no way an accurate reflection of the boxing brilliance and bravery showcased by both fighters in one of the Greatest Cruiserweight Fights of All Time.
James Toney vs Vassily Jirov was elected as Fight of the Year 2003 by the BWAA.
Here are 10 more notable Cruiserweight bouts;
1) David Haye vs. Jean Marc Mormeck
2) Lee Roy Murphy vs. Chisanda Mutti
3) Marco Huck vs. Krzysztof Glowacki
4) Guillermo Jones vs. Denis Lebedev
5) Yoan Pablo Hernandez vs. Troy Ross
6) Steve Cunningham vs. Marco Huck
7) Vassily Jirov vs. Julian Letterlough
8) Krzysztof Wlodarczyk vs. Rakhim Chakhkiev
9) Tomasz Adamek vs. Steve Cunningham I
10 ) Evander Holyfield vs. Dwight Muhammad Qawi I
Enjoy this highlight of a TACTICAL MASTERPIECE by 2 ring elites and remember to SUBSCRIBE for boxing awesomeness!

[@Fict10n]

Jirov was an absolute killer and Toney tamed him, legend.

[@ogmaco9059]

James Toney - Picasso of Boxing

[@Soletar77]

Classic. Toney showed his exemplary skill in caging a young tiger. Must have been mentally and physically exhausting. And imagine the pressure of being 100% focused or risk a knock-out. And in all-out wars, Toney's pinpoint accuracy always gives him the edge.

[@JZ505]

This was a really good fight and great performance by Toney. Jirov was a destroyer in those days too

[@cleaver3168]

You know it's one hell of a fight when Emmanuel Steward gets hyped up

[@gilbertluna6802]

Hahahahaha🤣🤣

[@jelab.7964]

One of my favorite fights. I remember watching this live. Left a beautiful woman in the car waiting for a lonnnnng time.

[@205ENTMore]

This fight right here was the one

[@agungpratomo2099]

Toney is a perfect fighter

[@user-sf4xv9zh4n]

My God Emmanuel telling tony left hook 3 times "left hook again" hes always paying attention to commentators george as well, and Emmanuel said in the beginning he wasnt throwing his left hook just perfect!

[@truthseeker7967]

He’s was his trainer at 1 point in his career at Kronk Gym in Detroit

[@junetjunaedi8762]

Cc

[@andiargana8487]

@@truthseeker7967according to toney emmanuel never train him it was another trainer in the kronk gym that train toney

[@user-bc4uz9tp8k]

@@andiargana8487 Bill Miller

[@andiargana8487]

@@user-bc4uz9tp8k not really, bill miller really start training toney when toney got signed with jackie kellen but when toney training at the kronk gym theres bunch of other trainer that train him and you can find this interview on yt about boxing trainer on james toney and they say that early in his career toney was trained by other coaches at the kronk gym not bill miller and emmanuel stewart

[@GOATAli]

Toney greatest natural fighter ever!!!

[@rocket5557]

Emmanuel Steward was the only one commentating that knew what he was watching. Jirov was all volume with no power. Toney put it on him bad. Toney’s shots were brutal.

[@daltonhannah-rm1vm]

Toney stole that fight with that last knockdown.

[@doublem1975x]

Toney won easily

[@daltonhannah-rm1vm]

@@doublem1975x it was a close fight

[@doublem1975x]

@@daltonhannah-rm1vm No it wasn’t. Toney took him to school, landing 3 to 1. Commentary team was bias.

[@123stig91123]

Sweet science on display.

[@alanpollock7929]

Toney is one of the greatest fighters of all time with a rock hard jaw

[@KidA712]

Facts from middleweight to heavyweight king. That Iran Barkley beat down was vicious and beautiful violence.

[@aureliodinaguit1645]

toney rock hard jaw even holifield cannot break him..

[@charliebrogan1141]

2 hard men going all out after each other in a proper slugfest but you always had the feeling Toney had something extra and could switch it up a level if he wanted.

[@jackg2630]

Could you imagine taking punishment like that just to lose your world championship belt. Such a brutal sport.

[@patrickbrowne4606]

That was one of the greatest title fights in history.

[@paulashford4155]

Amazing battle...not healthy, but unbelievable fight

[@labiemra6888]

James Toney very very talentet

[@WakrimMhend]

Vassily Amazing legs mouvement but James IS powerful

[@siliconvalleymobileevcharging]

*Jirov, No Joke!*

[@darrennandrewfitness2836]

One thing u don't do is take Toney to the Ropes and he will use the rope as support and peice u the fuck up 😂😂😂😂

[@edikurniawan9760]

slugfest for real

[@clintvan9715]

DRAWWWWWWWWWW

[@mrbrong]

How can be a draw in the fight where Jirov was counter punched on most of his missed punches and where he hit 3 times less than his opponent?