why did chris byrd move up 2 heavyweight

[Sugar Adam Ali]

how come he was successful in doing so???

Because he had great defensive skills and movement, which in his era of heavys not many had.......
remember he was in the era of ruiz, golata, brewster, fres, mccline, etc

[Sam Donald]

how would he do in todays era with the furys, haye, wilder

[Sugar Adam Ali]

how would he do in todays era with the furys, haye, wilder

He would do about the same,,, a prime byrd would be a tough out for anyone, but once again he would get beaten by wlad,,, Haye might ko him, but he would beat all the others IMO

[New England]

money. heavyweights make a lot of money.

[Boxing Bob]

when his first 3 fights were at middleweight? wtf

pretty remarkable but weird

does anybody know the history behind this?

$$$$$$$$$$, any other questions with obvious answers

[MisterHardtop]

As many have said here, Chris moved up for the money, but the reason he was able to have a modicum of success if because he had a great style for fighting bigger men. He was very sound defensively, he didn't take many punches and he also happened to have a decent chin. Chris is forgotten these days but in the late 90s, for anyone who was around the fight scene at the time, he was regarded as one of the most naturally gifted heavyweights at the time. Manny once said that watching Chris in his youth was seeing a truly gifted boxer who lacked that killer instinct.

Manny actually said that if Chris found that spark, he would become champion. Sadly, Chris never did.