|
"JIROV COMES UP SHORT"
|
 |
Maybe it’s just me … could be all wet but I don’t think so …
anyway, was late in last noche’s Mesi-Jirov battle that it came to me … not
sure if it was after the first knockdown in number nine or them subsequent ones
in stanza ten.
Was an old, old tune from many years back … only lyrics I
recall went "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" … but trust me when I say this Baby Joe
Mesi guy better heed the words … or one day he could well make the trip home to
Buffalo in a sealed box.
Ok, so he earned the nod, something
like 6-4 under the tried and trusted round by round scoring … still manages to
accrue the better numbers from the judges under the sometimes lacking point
scoring method.
The paid hacks ( Ford, Graham, Roth) unanimously tabbed
Mesi the winner by 94-93 on all cards - my unofficial had it for both Mesi and
Jirov … no, I did not score a draw.
I had Mesi the winner by 6-4 in
rounds … enjoyed a stretch over rounds 5 thru eight … also put numbers two and
three together … and so on that note I’m with them official scorers … but the
points method can distort a bit … as in a closing Jirov 10-8 backed by a
finishing candle 10-7.
Lo and behold, here I am with a Jirov winning on
points by … guess wot … 94-93.
But, no matter … neither guy has a prayer
at ever bringing home the proverbial gold at heavyweight … regardless of the
respective belt that may be up for grabs.
Mesi opens slow in round one …
picks it up over two and three … following a strong stanza five it comes … the
old inadvertent clash of heads with Jirov doing the bleeding … big round
Mesi.
It looks Mesi too strong for Jirov -the former Kazakhstan body
snatcher at cruiserweight ( pre Toney that is ) to do his best work- and so it
went Mesi over eight rounds.
And considering what transpired late in
candle nine, the Mesi corner could well have been yearning for them yesteryear
8-round club fights they held at the Grove & B’way in Brooklyn town -
because both these guys are at that level in the skills department.
Then
number nine … late in quiet round … a sudden Jirov inside left uppercut , right
hook combo scores and Mesi is down … and late or not, we finally have ourselves
a bit of drama.
Final candle ten sees Jirov the quicker off the stool and
playing long ball … and Mesi down from left hand … and then again from a flurry
… and much as in the Monte Barrett late wake up call, it would be a matter of
too little too late.
Post Scripts:
Joe Mesi ~ All too many signs in
last two outings we got ourselves a front runner … and shaky one at that … soft
in body, soft in chin … and couple them knockdowns saw him more complying than
being heavily dropped.
Vassiliy Jirov ~ Maybe way off base but feel he
fits in very nicely at that tainted cruiserweight division. Game and tough to a
degree but pretty much more a target than a contender or prospect at
heavyweight.
GEL
3-14-2004
