Jirov Returns to Action

by Kent Appel

Former world crusierweight champion Vassiliy Jirov, of Scottsdale, Arizona, originally from Kazakhstan, returns to the ring Thursday, August 7, 2003 for the first time since his hard fought loss to James Toney this past April 26.

The fight, in which he faces Ernest Mateen of Brooklyn, New York, is part of a live six bout card at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California that is being promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions and it will be shown on a tape delayed basis on Fox Sports Network on Sunday, August 10 at 6 PM Eastern/Pacific time. Check your local listings for the time in your area. The live card starts at 5:45 PM on August 7.

The card also features a CO feature bout between Lamont Pearson of Capital Heights, Maryland and Robbie Peden of Brisbane, Australia for the USBA junior lightweight championship. Pearson enters the scheduled twelve rounder with a record of 20-2-1, 11 by knockout while Peden is 21-2, 11 by knockout. This CO feature fight will also be seen on tape delay on Sunday on Fox Sports Network.

In his fight against Toney, in which Jirov lost the crusierweight title he had held since 1999, Jirov fought very well in the fight that was much closer than the judges scores of 117-110, 116-110, and 116-110 indicated. Most people in attendance and watching on nationwide television thought Toney had pulled out a narrow victory and there were some people who thought a draw would have been a fair decision.

Jirov, 29 years old, enters his bout with Mateen with a record of 31-1, 27 by knockout. While Mateen, 37 years old, is 27-10-3, 9 by knockout.

In addition to the televised bouts, four other matches are scheduled, including: a 10 round featherweight contest between Rudy Dominguez of Coachella, California, 9-0, 2 by KO and Jorge Garcia 10-10-1, 7 by KO, of Acapulco, Mexico. Scheduled for 6 rounds, Duncan Dokiwari, of Las Vegas, Nevada, 22-1, 9 by KO verses an opponent to be named, heavyweights. Scheduled for six rounds, Miguel Espino of Los Angeles, California, 9-0-1, 3 by KO takes on Saul Roman of Culiacan, Mexico, 10-2, 9 by KO, middleweights. Rounding out the card is a 4 round featherweight bout between Eduardo Vasquez of Coachella, California, 2-0-1, 2 by KO and Oscar Villa of Guerrero, Mexico, 3-14-1, 1 by KO.