Biography

I. Beginning Years

Vassiliy Jirov was born in Balkhash, a town in Kazakhstan named after the lake it stands on. Jirov was the third of six children. When he was about 3 years old, his alcoholic father left the family and he never saw him again. His mother Nina raised her six children and made sure they received education and support single-handedly, juggling her work as a welder, electrician, and machinist.

Nina was Jirov's first mentor and supporter. A dedicated sportsperson herself, she competed in local running events up until recently. Jirov's irresistible sense of humor and good heart come from her. She taught her son the meaning of love and appreciation for animals and nature. This strong and loving atmosphere of Jirov's family attracted those in need including injured animals. Even eagles would literally come to their doorstep and once healed bring another. Jirov once raised a baby falcon. Locals would often see his mother leading her children in a run by the lake. Jirov says she ignited his fire for sports. Together they watched the Olympic games on TV that began the dream. In sports from very young age; Jirov was into swimming, wrestling, and karate, winning his first trophies. Early on, he also mastered athletic folk dancing that enhanced his leg strength.

II. Boxing Training

In 1985, at the age of 11, Jirov found himself in boxing. However, he did not tell his mother that he was boxing for the next two years because she did not want him to box. He was trained by Alexander Apachinsky, a former national boxing champion, who was known to be very selective in choosing his students. He liked to test his young boxers from the beginning, by repeatedly putting them in difficult situations to see if they were mentally tough to come back for more. In Jirov's case, his trainer got personally involved with the 11-year-old and mercilessly wailed away on him. Unlike many others who came before him, Jirov was determined to pass this test.

'I am left-handed and my style was un-orthodox' - he recalls. His trainer told him to forget about boxing. The first couple of months, Jirov would come home with black eye, but that made him more determined to succeed. Jirov told his trainer he wasn't giving up. With many hours of hard work, his skills steadily improved, but his trainer was still not convinced. Jirov was going to school during the day, working part-time jobs and was helping his mother with the family garden. His trainer believed that Vassiliy had too many distractions and told him give up boxing. But Jirov continued to show up at the gym. Next, his trainer brought in a highly advanced boxing student who was under special training to spar with Vassiliy, and Jirov beat him. After that, the trainer changed his outlook.

There are myths floating around boxing circles about Apachinsky's unusual training techniques to develop speed and stamina, which Jirov diplomatically calls "new types of exercise". For example, Jirov would row the boat for 3 hours straight. Other times, he would be forced to swim to shore 3 to 4 miles. Routinely, the boxing team would crawl, run up and down huge sand dunes of white wet sand extracted from the lake to build endurance and will. For speed and fearlessness development, he used an attack German Shepherd. Occasionally Jirov would object to this dog race, but the trainer told him, 'if you don't want to do it, go away'. Scars from their teeth left a permanent memento on his wrists and back.

Jirov says of Alexander Apachinsky, whom he considered a father figure, that all his students undergo a 'tough man' school of survival that makes a real man. He cultivates a young boxer's character for both boxing and life. Such Spartan training has molded a take-no-prisoner warrior attitude.

In today's boxing, Jirov has one of the deepest and profound understandings of classic old-school boxing techniques, which he might share in the future.

III. Amateur and Olympic Achievments

Under Apachinsky's guidance, Jirov built an impressive record over the first half of the 90s, winning 207 of 217 amateur fights. By age 22, Jirov won 23 gold medals and was many times the Champion of Kazakhstan, Soviet Union, Asia, and Europe. He became a celebrity and his future in Kazakhstan was assured.

In those days, age 18 meant it was time to be drafted into the Army. Jirov served his time in the Air Force. There he would find time to continue his boxing training. Jirov adds that people who have served in the military seem to have a different outlook and a developed sense of self.

The 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta were approaching and Jirov was the brightest hope of Kazakhstan's boxing team for Olympic gold. Only a few of Jirov's fans and close friends know about this fact - in Atlanta Jirov broke his hand in the first Olympic match but kept fighting throughout the Games. He routinely disposed of his early opponents, and in the semifinals, Jirov met Antonio Tarver, a 27-year-old seasoned fighter. Although Tarver's ring savvy was his biggest asset, Jirov wore him down, and took control in the third and final round, winning on a shocking 15-9 decision. Jirov won the light- heavyweight Olympic gold medal. The Olympic Committee also awarded Jirov with the Val Baker Cup, presented to the Outstanding Boxer of the Games. At his homecoming speech, he shared his achievement with the people of Kazakhstan and raised the Cup together with his trainer. He still refers to the Atlanta Olympics as 'the greatest experience of my life'. Jirov has traveled over half the world, but wherever he was, his heart would always return him home.

After returning home with the gold medal, Jirov met with the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, and received the highest national Order 'Parasat', and was pronounced a National Hero. His hometown celebrated his success with a big parade, made him an 'Honorary Citizen' and named a street after him. The popularity of boxing in Kazakhstan is directly related to the fact that Jirov was its 1st boxer to win the Olympic gold and to become a World Champion. Boys now dream to become 'like Jirov'.

IV. Professional Career

After the Olympics, in December 1996, Jirov was invited to the United States, and settled in Arizona where he turned professional in January of 1997. He then signed with Bob Arum's Top Rank which promoted his first 25 bouts. His first trainer, Alexander Apachinsky came along and spent three months in Arizona training Vassiliy.

Jirov is often called 'the most dedicated southpaw in the art of body punching'. His style is reminiscent of Rocky Marciano and is an old school example of a man's man.

Jirov is an admirer of such American champions like Mohammad Ali, George Foreman and Rocky Marciano. Tony D'Acci, a boxing reporter from Big Bear, California where he trains calls Jirov 'one of the nicest people you will ever meet in boxing, a true champion and man'.

Rarely do you meet a boxing gladiator who has found a wholesome balance in life. When you talk to him about his secret to success and happiness, Jirov likes to answer 'It's all about heart' and winks. But watch for those muscles of steel ready for a deadly signature attack that gained Jirov the nickname of 'Tiger'. It is this improbable combination of the good heart of an 'everyday guy' in life and a 'Tiger' in the ring that remains in your heart and mind. Maybe the future of boxing belongs to men like this. We expect big things from him in the nearest future.

Since turning pro in 1997, Jirov was a defining force in upsetting many then promising fighting careers. He won 20 fights before getting a shot at the Champion Title. On June 5, 1999, Vassiliy 'Tiger' Jirov fought 'King' Arthur Williams and made history - it was the first cruiserweight match ever broadcast live on HBO. Jirov won the Title and became the IBF cruiserweight champion of the world. He defended his Title many times and remained undefeated 31-0, 27 by knockout.

2001 was a period of his life when he was going through managerial complications, which kept him out of ring for over a year. Jirov continued his boxing career and signed up to fight with James Toney, who has not held an alphabet title since 1994 when he lost to Roy Jones Jr. Jirov lost by a controversial decision to Toney on April 26, 2003 and many boxing aficionados would like to see a rematch of the unforgettable battle. During that 12 round fight, he threw over 1000 punches. ESPN called it the Fight of the Year 2003. Jirov has garnered a lot of fan-based support from that fight. He has gone on to win his next two fights.

In February 2004, Jirov decided to move up to the heavyweight division. He is an established multi-dimensional world champion. His profound knowledge and boxing skills enable him to fight in any division. His first fight as heavyweight while in cruiserweight division was vs. Adolpho Washington on July 20, 2001. Jirov won a 10 round fight by unanimous decision over Washington. Washington said 'he remembers little about it because he received a concussion due to a first-round clush of heads'.