Vasiliy Zhirov: life path, sporting achievements

Kazakhstan boxing school has always been famous for its masters. To date, a vivid example of this is the star of the ring Gennady Golovkin, from one name which shudders a lot of boxers around the world. But in this article it will not be about him, but about a man who, perhaps, is the pioneer of America as the Mecca of boxing for the Kazakhs. His name is Vasily Zhirov. This well-known person has done just a colossal path and was able to visit the world top of the sport, owning a champion belt among professionals.

Birth

Vasily Zhirov was born on April 4, 1974 in the Karaganda region of the Kazakh SSR (Balkhash town). By nationality - Russian. He started boxing in 1986 in a section that functioned at the local vocational school. His first coach was Alexander I. Apachinsky, who is a well-deserved trainer of the republic.

Youth achievements

The master of sports Vasiliy Zhirov became in 1990. And a year later he was invited to the youth national team of the Soviet Union.

In 1992, Scottish Edinburgh hosted the European Championship, in which Zhirov won first place in the category of up to 74 kilograms. In the same year he won the first time the Kazakhstan championship, which later won three more times. Such achievements could not go unnoticed for the sports leadership, and he was invited already in the adult team.

Moving to a new level

1993 was also very successful for Vasily. He won the CIS tournament and became the bronze medalist of the world championship, which was held in Tampere in Finland. His weight category then was average.

The following year, Zhirov moved to a category higher (up to 81 kg) and in it was able to take the bronze of the Asian Games and the Asian Championship. But, of course, the athlete's brightest performance was the Olympic Games in Atlanta (1996), which he so convincingly won, that he got the Val Barker cup for it.

In total, Vasily Zhirov spent two hundred and seventeen fights on the amateur ring, out of which came out the winner in two hundred and seven.

Professional career

The status of a professional Zhirov received in 1997. For the performances, he chose the first heavy weight.

The first year of performances in the professional ring brought him 14 wins. As a result of this sprint in May 1998, Basil got the chance, for the first time for himself, to enter the title fight against Rich Montana. The fight lasted all the twelve rounds allocated for this, after which the native from Kazakhstan became the owner of the intercontinental belt.

A year later, Zhirov wins against Onobe Maxim, thanks to which he wins the vacant title of continental champion of America.

Career peak

As life showed, the main fight of Vasily Zhirov in his career was June 5, 1999, when he met with Arthur Williams. This fight was for the title of world champion (IBF). The duel ended in the seventh round with the victory of the Kazakh. For three years, Basil successfully defended his title from the pretensions of other contenders, until April 26, 2003, did not meet with James Toney, who lost on points.

Transition to a heavy weight category

In early 2004, Vasily Zhirov, whose biography had numbered a lot of fights by that time, decided to move to a new division for himself. His first opponent was Joe Mezi, who at that time was one of the most promising fighters. The fight was held on March 13, 2004 and ended with the extremely doubtful and unconvincing American victory by a referee's decision with a score of 94-93. And this despite the fact that Zhirov three times sent the opponent in a knockdown.

In total in this category the Kazakh athlete with Slavic roots spent five fights. Two of them he won, two lost, one ended in a draw, after which he decided to return to his native weight.

The last fight in the career of Zhirov was on October 17, 2009.

Interesting Facts

It is well known that all world boxing champions pass through their difficulties during the training process. Fat did not become an exception. His coach with the goal to develop in Vasilii high-speed qualities forced him to run along the corridor, escaping from the German shepherd. This is how the boxer learned to run very fast. The athlete's idols were Mohammed Ali and Ray Leonard.

By education Vasily is a gas and electric welder.

Among the admirers of talent Zhirov appear such Hollywood stars as Johnny Depp and Mickey Rourke, who repeatedly came to cheer actively for him during the battles held on American soil.

Also, according to the athlete himself, the most joyful event for him was the arrival of the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev for the battle that Basil won on his native land. After the fight, the boxer got the opportunity to personally communicate with the first person of the state.

Life today

Many world boxing champions after leaving the sport fall out of the "clip", but not Zhirov.

The former champion now lives in America and is engaged in coaching activities. In addition, he grows two of his sons (Nicholas and Jacob) who actively swim in the pool. Will they choose the path of their father in the future? It is still unknown. As Vasily Zhirov himself says, boxing is not an activity that he would recommend to his children.

The very same descendant from the Soviet Union now helps people maintain optimal physical form, optimizes their nutrition, teaches self-defense. Also in plans he holds the opening of a fitness room in Los Angeles. After so many years of enormous loads, Zhirov became also a vegetarian, and also engaged in energy, which is completely harmless to humanity.