Former cruiserweight champion and 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist Vassiliy
“The Tiger” Jirov (37-3-1, 31 KOs) will face Dominique Alexander
(18-7-1, 9 KOs) when he returns to the ring for the first time in two
years on October 17 at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona. “We
are committed to keeping top-level shows like this one coming to
Arizona, where the fans are enthusiastic supporters of world-class
action,” said Jirov’s manager Ivaylo Gotzev. “Vassiliy is the perfect
fighter to help us bring boxing back to the area. He moved to Phoenix
after the 1996 Olympics and has lived here ever since. He trains in
downtown Phoenix at Central Gym and Joe Diaz’s Gym.” Ironically,
Jirov’s last Phoenix appearance was his sold-out 12-round IBF
cruiserweight title defense against Jorge Castro in 2002 at the very
same Celebrity Theatre.
In the main supporting bout, Phoenix native and star of The Contender
series, Eric “Dynamite” Vega (8-4-1, 6 KOs) will face heavy-fisted
former world champion Kelvin “Konkrete” Davis (24-10-3, 17 KOs) in a
cruiserweight showdown.
Also on the undercard, Arizona will get its first look at former
amateur world champion and now undefeated light heavyweight Ismayl
Silakh of the Ukraine (9-0, 8 KOs) as well as an intriguing showdown
between Phoenix super lightweight Eddie Brooks (8-2, 3 KOs) and
Sweden’s undefeated Shadi Hamsho (10-0, 2 KOs).
Tickets for “Phoenix Rising” are available at the Celebrity Theatre box
office, online at www.celebritytheatre.com or by calling 602.267.1600.
They are priced at $25 and $50 with a limited number of Gold Circle VIP
seats available for $100.
1. Ukraine Wladimir Klitschko
2. Russia Nikolay Valuev
3. USA Mike Tyson
4. Ukraine Vitaly Klitschko
5. Uzbekistan Ruslan Chagaev
6. Russia Oleg Maskaev
7. Nigeria Samuel Peter
8. USA Roy Jones
9. Russia Sultan Ibragimov
10.United Kingdom David Haye
