Moorer wint met KO van Jirov

[Nicky]

Former 2-time heavyweight champion Michael Moorer took a huge step toward another big-money (if not world title) fight tonight when he stopped Vassiliy Jirov in the ninth round. Moorer, 37, was too big and too skilled for the former cruiserweight champion, who is now 0-2 as a heavyweight.

[Makijs]

Dat vind ik verrassend.

[Maupie]

idd verrassend ja

[Makijs]

Moorer Stays Alive With KO of Jirov
By David A. Avila (December 10, 2004)
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TEMECULA-Michael Moorer needed only one punch to change the outcome of a fight he was trailing against Vassily Jirov to capture the WBA and WBC regional heavyweight titles on Thursday.


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"It was a straight left hand," said Moorer (47-4-1, 37 KOs).

In a battle between southpaws, Moorer had fallen far behind the busier and lighter Jirov before more than 2,000 people at the Pechanga Resort and Casino. But that one punch may have saved the 37-year-old's heavyweight career for at least one more fight.

Jirov (33-3, 29 KOs) jumped far ahead with jabs and left hands to the body that shook the fleshy Moorer. But every time Moorer landed a left or right it moved the gritty Kazakhstan fighter.

In the third round, both exchanged a barrage of punches and Moorer slumped to the ground touching his forehead. Referee Pat Russell ruled it a knockdown but Jirov's hairline was bleeding profusely from a collision of heads.

By the sixth round, Jirov, 30, began slowing and Moorer began landing blows at short range. Slowly the fight began to change.

In the eighth, Jirov jumped out quickly with jabs and body shots in attempt to regain the momentum. But he ran into a short, six-inch left hand that took effect a few seconds later and he dropped to the floor. He jumped up quick, maybe too quick, and reeled slightly. Referee Russell took a look at his eyes and called the fight off at 2:08 in the round. He was far behind on all three judges score cards 78-72, 79-71, 77-73.

Moorer was coming off a loss to Eliseo Castillo last summer and had never lost back to back fights. Now he's back in the muddled heavyweight picture. One possible opponent could be James Toney, who was present.

"I don't know what it proved, but I'm glad I won," said Moorer. "I just wanted to win."