Comebacking Moorer Stops Jirov in Nine
by
Phillip Diaz - Ringside
12/10 - Former heavyweight champion and current IBF #15 ranked Michael Moorer’s career has had its peak's and valley's and last night's bout from Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, CA televised on Fox's 'Best Dan Sports Show Period' would be no different as he would trail on all three of the judges score cards and some how managed to comeback and defeat IBF #13 ranked Vassilly Jirov via TKO at 2:08 into the ninth round.
From the start, both fighters’ game plans were obvious, as they tried to establish their jab and get out to an early lead. Jirov’s plan, which worked for the first half of the fight, was to work the body and throw hooks while Moorer on the other hand looked to counter his opponent.
The first two rounds seemed to be Jirov’s rounds as he was the more aggressive and busier fighter landing some good power shots as well. Working behind his jab, Jirov was circling Moorer and working the body, although many of the blows seemed to be borderline or perhaps slightly south of the border. Jirov’s counterpart Moorer seemed to be somewhat tentative in the early going, but did land a few good punches, but couldn't wrestle away the lead as Jirov controlled the action.
In round three, the action picked up as both fighters’ stepped up the pace and had openings to attack. Midway through the round, Jirov landed a body shot on Moorer and at the same time both fighters’ clashed heads. Although the head appeared to be the cause of Moorer dropping to his knees, the referee ruled it a knock down noneheless. Jirov due to the clash of heads was bleeding profusely at his hairline.
Rounds four and five were more of the same, as both fighters’ continued to clash heads. Jirov was still the busier fighter and seemed to be backing Moorer up as the fight progressed. However, late in the 5th, Jirov was warned by the referee for hitting below the waist, and was very close to getting a point deducted. This may have affected Jirov's plan to attack Moorer's mid-section.
During rounds six and seven, Moorer picked up the pace and started to counter Jirov more effectively at times. During the seventh round there was another clash of heads, which opened up a gash near Jirov’s eye, unlike the first cut this one appeared to cause problems for Jirov.
As the fight progressed to the eight round, Moorer, unlike many of Jirov’s previous opponents, seemed to be coming on in the latter rounds bringing to mind Jirov's HBO performance against Joe Mesi. In that same round after being previously warned by the referee, Jirov finally had a point deducted from him for head butting Moorer.
Both fighters took it up a notch in the ninth, as Jirov leading with his head on many occasions continued to come forward. Moorer, who was now countering Jirov more effectively, was much more aggressive and confident than the earlier rounds. Towards the end of the ninth, it paid off for Moorer as he dropped Jirov with a straight left that buckled Jirov's knees and he fell forward to the canvas. Jirov made the fatal mistake of trying to get up immediately and although he managed to get up before the count of ten, the fight was halted by referee Pat Russell at 2:08 into the ninth round.
With the loss, Jirov drops his third fight in his last five and falls to 33-3, while Moorer improves to 47-4-1.
In the co-main event, featherweight rising star Robert 'The Ghost' Guerrero, 14-0-1, looked spectacular in route to defeating Caesar Figueroa, 27-5, for the NABF title. Guerrero put on a masterful display of boxing from beginging to end. The game, yet outclassed Figueroa gave it his all, but it would be to no avail as Guerrero put on a clinic. Guerrero worked the body, countered beautifully and controlled the action from start to finish.
In the fourth round Guerrero backed Figueroa to the ropes and dropped him with a huge punch. Just seconds later Figueroa was dropped a second time and this time seriously hurt as the referee Raul Caiz Sr. stopped the action without even counting at :59 seconds. This is no apparition, the 'Ghost' is for real.
In other under card action, Riverside's Cristobal “The Nightmare” Arreola was victorious over Mexico City’s Benjamin Garcia. For Garcia, Arreola must have been a nightmare, as from the opening bell Arreola Jumped on Garcia and pummeled him in route to a KO victory in the first round.
The name of the night had to belong to Van Nuys very own Sean “The Chiszl” Rogers, who was out Chiszled by Michigan’s Lorenzo Explosive Reynolds, via decision. The southpaw Reynolds who was making his pro debut seems to have a bright future and the Chiszl now 1-1 isn’t that bad either.
Last but not least the biggest surprise of the night wasn’t Moorer beating Jirov. No this surprise happened outside of the ring. While dinning at the Pechanga Buffet, none other than former multi-division champ and future Hall of famer James “Lights Out” Toney walks through the restaurant, that’s hardly a surprise but the fact that he didn’t eat a thing had to be. All jokes aside Toney appeared to be in good shape and has his sites set on returning to the ring early next year.
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