By Rick Reeno

Chris Byrd in an interview with Boxing writer Tim Smith, called WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko a joke. He said that Danny Williams was nothing more then a punching bag and he hopes to get Vitali in the ring again.

"Did you see Frankenstein in that ring? I hope I get to fight him. He's a joke. (Williams) was a 270-pound punching bag. I wish I had that kind of punching bag in my gym." said Chris Byrd

There is still heat stemming from Byrd's defeat over Klitschko in 2000. Vitali ahead on all the scorecards and on his way to an easy decision win, retired on his stool in the tenthe round after suffering a torn rotator cuff in the bout. Klitschko was up 88-83, 88-83 and 89-82 on the judges' cards. Klitschko wants to avenge the loss and Byrd wants to show the world that the win was not a fluke.

At the moment, Byrd vs. Klitschko 2 is the biggest fight in the heavyweight division. There has been contradicting reports over why the rematch has not been made. The Klitshcko camp claims that King wants options on the fight winner and King has denied those claims.

Don King, promoter of the other three champions (Lamon Brewster, Chris Byrd and John Ruiz) in the heavyweight division, took the opportunity to take a few verbal jabs towards Vitali as well.

"You could have thrown a brick through Mandalay Bay and never hit anybody. Klitschko hit Danny Williams with the kitchen sink and the whole house and he still couldn't knock him out. I don't think that speaks too highly of a guy who wants to be known as the best heavyweight in the world." said King