IBF Crusierweight Champion Vasili Jirov

1996 Olympic Gold Medallist and Barker Cup Winner Balgash, Kazakhstan/ Scottsdale, AZ. 31-0 (27 KO's)

As a boy growing up in the former Soviet Union, 11-year-old Vassiliy followed a friend to the local gym where he would meet the man who would become his father figure, coach and strict disciplinarian. Alexander Apachinsky is still the famed coach of the Kazahkstan National Boxing Team.

Apachinsky, an imposing figure and former National Champion himself, introduced young Jirov to the sport of boxing by personally getting into the ring with him and giving him a black eye. The next day, Jirov, a southpaw, came back for more. Later training methods would include putting Vassiliy in a long, narrow hallway with a door at the far end and a 5-foot lead on a German Shepard attack dog. By American standards, the training methods were brutal both mentally and physically. Jirov has the stories and the scars to prove it. Still, Vassiliy has nothing but love and respect for the man he credits with making him the champion he is today.

During the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Jirov not only won the Gold, he was awarded The Val Barker Cup for Outstanding Boxer of The Games. Vassiliy calls the '96 Games "the greatest experience of my life." While in Atlanta, he realized that he wanted to live the American dream. He moved to Phoenix and met his future wife just two weeks after arriving. His new "greatest experience" arrived in September of 2001 - their first child. A boy.

Widely regarded as one of boxing's most brutal body punchers, Jirov won the IBF Cruiserweight Title on June 5 th , 1999 by stopping "King" Arthur Williams in the first Cruiserweight match ever broadcast live on HBO. Since then he has defended his title like a true champion, winning all five of his title defenses including four by knockout. Jirov, still young to the game of boxing has a promising future, including a plan to unify the cruiser belts.