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Exclusive Interview with VASSILIY JIROV
GL: What's the latest and greatest Vassiliy? "I'm getting ready for my next fight, I'm actually getting ready to fight in Russia."
NEW TOWN, North Dakota (July 14, 2007) – Returning to his trademark aggressive, body attack style, Vassiliy Jirov (37-3-1, 30 KOs) positioned himself in the cruiserweight division with a second-round TKO win against veteran Kenny “The Raven” Craven last night (Saturday, July 14) at 4 Bears Casino and Lodge in New Town, North Dakota.
09.07.07 - By Izyaslav “Slava” Koza: On July 14th the “Russian Tiger” returns to the cruiserweight jungle against Kenny Craven
NEW TOWN, North Dakota (June 26, 2007) – Former IBF champion Vassiliy “The Tiger” Jirov puts his potential world title fight against WBA title-holder Virgil “Quicksilver” Hill, or any of the other cruiserweight kings, on the line July 14 when he headlines “Thriller On The River,” launching the “Pinnacle FiteNite” pro boxing series, at 4 Bears Casino and Lodge in New Town, North Dakota..
Jirov says he's not fighting Flores, has sights set on Toney rematch
GL: What's the latest and greatest Vassiliy? "I'm getting ready for my next fight, I'm actually getting ready to fight in Russia."
GL: When will you be fighting in Russia?
Vassiliy Jirov: "Right now, really soon. (laughs) I'm actually waiting for the details, but we're going to have something going on really soon."
GL: Will you be fighting BJ Flores on November 24 in Las Vegas?
VJ: "No. He can fight with somebody on that date, but it won't be me."
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Jirov’s 2nd round TKO
Jirov’s back in cruiserweight mix
NEW TOWN, North Dakota (July 14, 2007) – Returning to his trademark aggressive, body attack style, Vassiliy Jirov (37-3-1, 30 KOs) positioned himself in the cruiserweight division with a second-round TKO win against veteran Kenny “The Raven” Craven last night (Saturday, July 14) at 4 Bears Casino and Lodge in New Town, North Dakota.
Former IBF cruiserweight champion Jirov hopes that his impressive victory will move him up in the ratings and in the mix for a world title shot, possibly against WBA title-holder Virgil “Quicksilver” Hill, in the not too distant future. “I’m back,” Jirov proclaimed after the fight. “People were starting to forget about me. I’m looking forward to fighting any of the champions and becoming a world champion again. Fighting Hill definitely is a possibility; I want to fight him.”
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Vassiliy Jirov Interview
I would go on the (Ali G) show, if Borat invited me!
09.07.07 - By Izyaslav “Slava” Koza: On July 14th the “Russian Tiger” returns to the cruiserweight jungle against Kenny Craven
in the main event of a card out in North Dakota. Vassiliy has been in the gym ever since learning of the possibility of fighting
James Toney this September in Moscow. However, Toney’s problems with accusations regarding steroid abuse have left that opportunity in limbo.
While that may seem terrible, the Jirov team is only thinking positive, and thinking ahead to getting together with Virgil Hill for a championship rumble in the very state Vassiliy fights in roughly 2 weeks from now. Hill a former protégé of Thell Torrence is currently one of the titleholders at cruiser.
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Jirov risks potential world title fight headlining “Thriller On The River”
On the Road to the Title
NEW TOWN, North Dakota (June 26, 2007) – Former IBF champion Vassiliy “The Tiger” Jirov puts his potential world title fight against WBA title-holder Virgil “Quicksilver” Hill, or any of the other cruiserweight kings, on the line July 14 when he headlines “Thriller On The River,” launching the “Pinnacle FiteNite” pro boxing series, at 4 Bears Casino and Lodge in New Town, North Dakota..
Jirov (36-3-1, 30 KOs), 1996 Olympic gold medal winner and Outstanding Boxer, was born in Kazakhstan and now fights out of Scottsdale, Arizona. The rugged southpaw, presently ranked No. 14 by the WBA, captured the IBF cruiserweight title in 1999 by seventh-round stoppage of “King” Arthur Williams. Jirov successfully defended his title belt six times against Dale Brown (KO10), Saul Montana (TKO9), Alex Gonzales (KO1), Terry McGroom (KO1), Julian Letterlough (TKO8) and Jorge Fernando Castro (DEC12).
Jirov’s opponent in the 10-round main event on July 14 is veteran Kenny “The Raven” Craven (28-18, 23 KOs). The battle-tested Craven, who has been in with world champions such as Michael Nunn, Vaughn Bean, Oliver McCall and Henry Akinwande, as well as leading contenders Calvin Brock, Timor Ibragomov and Clifford Etienne, won two of four fights with fabled Eric “Butterbean” Esch.
“This is the fight to put me back in line for a world title fight,” Jirov said. “People will know I’m back after this fight. It’s a new stage in my life. Past is past; now is kind of going from zero to a new beginning. I’m excited about this fight and I will be bringing my best to prove that I’m still one of the top cruiserweights in the world.”
“Thriller On The River,” presented by 4 Bears Casino & Lodge in association with Sports and Entertainment Media, Inc., which launches the “Pinnacle FiteNite” monthly series to be broadcast from a wide variety of venues, will air worldwide on a taped delay basis for free.
Unbeaten 23-year-old Native American cruiserweight prospect Shawn “The Sioux Warrior” Hawk (14-0-1, 12 KOs), representing the Crow Creek Reservation in South Dakota, takes on Sam “Slam Bam” Tillman (13-10-1, 2 KOs) in the eight-round co-feature.
Providing chief support on the undercard is undefeated New Jersey light heavyweight Chuck “The Professor” Mussachio (10, 5 KOs), the former two-time National Collegiate Boxing Association boxing champion from Lock Haven University and currently a teacher, in a six-round bout.
Las Vegas high-profile defense attorney Marc Saggese (1-0, 1 KO) is in action against pro debuting Christian Bendickson in a four-round cruiserweight match. Also on the undercard, in four rounds bouts, is Bismarck (ND) light middleweight Nick Runningbear (1-0, 0 KOs) versus Cheyenne Ziegler (1-0, 1 KO), North Dakota (Mandan) heavyweight Archie Hopkins makes his pro debut against Bill “The Kid” Johnson (6-6, 3 KOs), cruiserweight Lyle Kruger, of Grand Forks (ND), and Bismarck’s Chris Hugh will both be making their pro debuts. All bouts and fighters are subject to change.
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Thell Torrence Interview
Audley sacrificed his fight date for Vassiliy’s Jirov sake. That shows Character!
03.07.07 - By Izyaslav “Slava” Koza: On July 14th, my favorite fighter, the Kazakhstani native, Vassiliy Jirov, will be making his long awaited return to the boxing ring. Currently the “Russian Tiger” is in training under the watchful eye of legendary mentor Thell Torrence. A former fighter himself, Torrence was managed and trained by the celebrated Eddie Futch who also helped guide Torrence on the road to becoming a great coach in his own right. Now, Thell tries to raise a new generation of fighters and attempt to guide them to the type of success his previous apprentices, Ken Norton, Riddick Bowe, Montell Griffin, Virgil Hill, Mike McCallum, and others have tasted under, and thanks, to his tutelage.
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