Just about four years ago, cruiserweight Vassiliy Jirov stopped Arthur Williams and won one of those ridiculous alphabet soup belts. Jirov totally dominated Williams, pummelling his body en route to the knockout win. The 190-pounder out of Kazakhstan had already won an Olympic Gold medal, and was even voted the outstanding fighter of those 1996 Games - which is almost like being voted the best amateur, pound for pound, in the world. Since the Williams fight, Jirov has been seen as potentially the most exciting cruiserweight since Evander Holyfield - which is the same thing as saying the second-most exciting cruiserweight of all-time.

And he even has a logical foil - James "Lights Out" Toney - a name opponent with whom he can make the first great cruiserweight match since Evander Holyfield challenged Dwight Muhammad Qawi in the summer of '86. Holyfield won that fight - the last truly epic 15-round classic in boxing history. Evander's split decision win over Qawi made him the first (and last) legitimate cruiserweight star.

Toney has been campaigning successfully against lower-echelon world- class cruiserweight opponents for almost half a decade now. He has name value, and beyond that, remains a supremely skilled, confident, and certainly world class fighter. Yes, it is true that Toney is no longer in his prime. It is also true that Toney is shorter, older, and does not hit as hard as Jirov.

Furthermore, Toney has a history of coming into his fights in less than perfect shape, while Jirov always seems to be in top condition. In addition, Toney is the naturally smaller man, having won his first belt at 160 pounds, compared to Jirov who won his first at 190. Finally, Jirov is six years younger than Toney - with significantly less wear and tear, and is probably closer to his physical prime.

So what makes Toney a viable quasi-superfight opponent for Jirov? First, "Lights Out" is not as old as you might think. He is still (very slightly) closer to 30 than to 40. It only seems like he's older because he was so good at such a young age (he was 23 when he knocked out Michael Nunn for the middleweight title). Even as he approaches 35, and even after 71 pro fights, Toney is still relatively fresh. His old-school slip-and-block defensive skills have preserved him.

Toney is also a natural counterpuncher, and has always been better when his opponent comes at him, as opposed when he has to chase his opponent. The two best, most consistent performances in his career came against guys who tried to crowd him and outwork him. Iran Barkley tried it in a bid for Toney's super middleweight belt and was dominated and knocked out. Prince Charles Williams tried the same thing and met the same fate.

Though Jirov has been boxing more and brawling less in recent fights against the limited Julian Letterlough and old Jorge Castro, he is still a guy who wants nothing more than for his opponent to stay put. Toney will oblige him. The question will be whether Toney is a better counterpuncher than Jirov is a pressure fighter.

With a Hall of Fame resume, Toney has been in many big fights throughout his career. That experience should be a huge advantage. Jirov has never been in a professional fight where the eyes of the boxing world were all focused on him. Toney's slipped on the biggest stage on which he has ever performed - the Roy Jones Jr. fight - but the Barkley fight was big, as were two of the three Mike McCallum fights. On top of Jones, McCallum, Nunn, Barkley and Williams, Toney has taken on a prime Montell Griffin (twice), a prime Reggie Johnson, Anthony Hembrick, Tim Littles, Merqui Sosa and on and on.

Toney's strategy will be to pick the aggressive Jirov apart throughout the early and middle rounds, and then chop him down late - or else hope to win enough rounds along the way to take the fight on points. Jirov's strategy will likely be to box more than Toney expects, break down Toney's body, and also either take him out late, or else win enough rounds along the way to take the fight on points.

Jirov has been inactive since his unimpressive win against Castro over a year ago. Meanwhile, Toney has a possible huge money rematch with Roy Jones to motivate him. Now a small heavyweight, Jones might look at the winner of this fight as a viable name from whom he could snatch one of those belts he so covets. Roy never did bother to pick up a cruiserweight title, and he has said in the past that he would consider fighting Toney again were Toney to win a belt at 190.

Add it all up, and I'll take a relatively inexperienced, possibly rusty, but younger, larger and bigger-hitting Jirov over the incredibly experienced, supremely confident, highly motivated, but smaller, older and lighter-hitting Toney. On points. In the second greatest cruiserweight fight of all-time. Don't miss this one.

Max Kellerman is a studio analyst for ESPN2's Friday Night Fights and the host of the show Around The Horn.