JIROV RIDES MOMENTUM FROM A LOSS.

Byline: MICHAEL ROSENTHAL Boxing

Vassiliy Jirov still believes strongly that he beat James Toney in an unforgettable fight in April, that politics played as meaningful a role in the decision as the punches the fighters exchanged.

At the same time, the former cruiserweight champion doesn't dwell on the disappointment of suffering his first loss and losing his belt.

Rather, he and his handlers give it a positive spin: Even in defeat, his courageous performance endeared him to fans who have largely overlooked him since he turned professional in 1997 after a spectacular amateur career, which was capped by an Olympic gold medal for Kazakhstan in 1996.

``In the long run, it will help me,'' said Jirov, who gets back into the ring against journeyman Ernest Mateen on Thursday in Temecula. ``I think people liked what they saw in this fight. And I wasn't 100 percent. I had gone a year and three months without fighting. My body wasn't prepared 100 percent.

``The next time, I'll be 100 percent and take my belt back.''

Wasn't 100 percent? It certainly didn't look like it.

Jirov and Toney threw nearly 2,000 punches combined, which is unheard of at 190 pounds. And they saved their most furious and damaging exchanges for late in the fight, when logic said they should've been slowing down. The most telling blow came in the 12th when Toney put Jirov down, which observers thought might give Toney the edge in a very close fight.

He didn't need it: The judges gave Toney a curiously clear victory: Glen Feldman 117-109, Melvina Latham 116-110 and Steve Weisfeld 116-110.

Jirov (31-1, with 27 knockouts) had a legitimate complaint.

``I think the judges were looking at a different fight,'' he said. ``After the fight, I received hundreds of e-mails and everyone said this is a robbery. At minimum, it was a draw. Then, at least, I'd still have my belt. But you know, some things happen in boxing, political games. I've been in boxing a long time, 19 years, 12 years as an amateur.

``I've lost like this other times. And it's OK. I just do my best.''

Again, however, Jirov, 29, certainly didn't hurt his image. The fact he never for a moment stopped throwing punches even as he absorbed severe punishment is the kind of thing fans latch onto - win or lose. Arturo Gatti and Mickey Ward are two fighters who built their careers on such courage.

And, fortunately for him, it was witnessed by the largest audience to see him fight primarily because of Toney's name recognition.

Naturally, Al Haymon, Jirov's manager, would've liked to see his fighter's hand raised in victory, but he couldn't have asked for more from Jirov.

``I couldn't be more proud of how he performed,'' Haymon said. ``... His performance was an indication of what kind of fighter he is, what kind of person he is. He brought everything he had to that match even though he was rusty. I think of that fight and I think of a warrior, a guy who gives everything. I can't imagine anyone who saw that fight thinking differently.

``And he handled (the loss) unbelievably well. He's not one to sulk, to complain. He just picks himself up and goes to work.''

Jirov said his contract for the first meeting with Toney called for a rematch and he expects to get one - at some point. For now, he has to wait as Toney prepares to fight Evander Holyfield in a heavyweight bout on Oct. 4 with the winner hoping for a shot at WBA champion Roy Jones Jr. or perhaps IBF champ Chris Byrd.

And Jirov won't be idle while he's waiting. Like Toney, the resident of Scottsdale, Ariz., has his eye on the smaller heavyweights - Jones, Byrd, Holyfield and others - as well as the top cruiserweights. In other words, he's hungry to build on the unusual momentum he has established and will fight anyone who can help him take the next step.

The only thing that is certain, Haymon said, is that ``Vassiliy Jirov's best years are in front of him.''

Those who saw the fight in April won't argue with that.

--Golota watch: Secure your protective cup, Andrew Golota is coming back.

The former heavyweight contender, whose unusual behavior in the ring ultimately superseded his obvious talent, is scheduled to fight journeyman Brian Nix on Aug. 14 in Dover, Del. - his first fight in almost three years.

What has brought him back?

Golota said he's bored. His handlers believe he wants to prove to the world that he can behave himself.

``I think it's his pride,'' said Sam Colonna, his off-and-on trainer since 1992. ``He doesn't want to go out the way he did.''

Golota, 37, will be remembered primarily for his two battles with Riddick Bowe in 1996, each of which he was winning when he inexplicably landed a series of low blows and was disqualified.

He subsequently froze in a first-round knockout loss to Lennox Lewis and was stopped by Michael Grant and Mike Tyson, although the Tyson fight was declared no contest when Tyson tested positive for marijuana.

``It was a big disappointment,'' Colonna said. ``He's a white guy, a big guy, one of the best pound-for-pound at one time. It's like he didn't want to be successful. Against Bowe, he was a few rounds from becoming one of the best heavyweights out there and he blew it.

``I think it's the pressure. Even in interviews, he gets paranoid, he has an anxiety attack. It's something he has to overcome.''

Golota walked into Colonna's gym in Chicago about five months ago, but it took time for Colonna to take him seriously.

``I didn't think he was serious at first,'' Colonna said. ``Then, when he started coming every day, I thought, `This (guy) is serious.' He hasn't missed a workout.''

Colonna said Golota retains the physical tools he had when he twice outboxed Bowe, although he's in rehabilitation for a left-shoulder injury he suffered in a car accident. He's in excellent shape, Colonna said.

The question is whether he can maintain his composure in the ring.

``I hope he can,'' Colonna said. ``It seems like he won't have a problem. He seems to be more under control now than I've ever seen him. He knows how important this is, he knows he can't do crazy things in the ring.

``That would be the end of his career.''

--Rabbit punches: NBC will televise a card featuring 2000 U.S. Olympian Rocky Juarez, whose opponent hasn't been selected, on Sept. 13. Then the series is expected to be picked up again next year after a successful run earlier this year. ... Undefeated Puerto Rican Olympian Miguel Cotto will face Demetrio Ceballas in a WBA junior welterweight elimination bout on the Oscar De La Hoya-Shane Mosley undercard Sept. 13 in Las Vegas. Also, Juan Lazcano will fight Stevie Johnston in a WBC lightweight eliminator.

DAILY NEWS TOP 10

Pound-for-pound rankings

1. Roy Jones Jr.

Most gifted fighter in biz

2. Bernard Hopkins

Fight someone, anyone

3. Oscar De La Hoya 

At his best at 30

4. Kostya Tszyu

Needs defining fight - Mayorga?

5. Marco Antonio Barrera 

Mexico's best, but barely

6. Erik Morales

Mexico's next best

7. Ricardo Mayorga

Victories over Forrest say it all

8. Floyd Mayweather

Skillful and quick as ever

9. Lennox Lewis

When fit, still dominating

10. James Toney

Took long road back to top

CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo:

Vassiliy Jirov, who lost unanimously to James Toney in April, will fight again Thursday in Temecula.

Steve Miller/Associated Press

Box:

(1) COMING UP

- Michael Rosenthal

(2) DAILY NEWS TOP 10 (see text)