By Keith Idec
Maurice Byarm remembers watching the Wladimir Klitschko-Chris Byrd rematch in April 2006 as the turning point in his life.
As they watched the fight in their Philadelphia home, Byarm turned to his dad, a retired cruiserweight who once fought Evander Holyfield, and said, “I could beat both of them.” Lionel Byarm shrugged off his son’s predicition, but offered Maurice some advice.
“He told me I’ve got to run, to make sure I run,” said Byarm, who hadn’t boxed before then. “That Monday I went to the gym, and I stuck with it.”
Nearly six years later, Byarm is a rising heavyweight headlining a nationally televised show at Asylum Arena in Philadelphia, about a five-minute car ride from where he and his dad watched the Klitschko-Byrd bout on that fateful Saturday afternoon. The 29-year-old Byarm will face another undefeated Philadelphia fighter, Bryant Jennings, in the first 10-rounder for both boxers.
Byarm (13-0-1, 9 KOs) and Jennings (11-0, 5 KOs) accepted the fight, which will be televised by NBC Sports Network as part of its “Fight Night” series, on less than one week’s notice because Philadelphia contender Eddie Chambers (36-2, 18 KOs) withdrew from his scheduled fight against ex-WBO champion Sergei Liakhovich (25-4, 16 KOs) due to cracked ribs.
“It wasn’t a problem taking it on short notice, because I was in good enough shape,” Byarm said. “It would’ve been a problem if I felt the playing field wasn’t level. But he got the fight on short notice, also. And on top of that, he’s never done a 10-rounder, same as me. So I felt like it’ll be an even match. It won’t be a one-side match, with them trying to catch me off-guard or anything.”
Byarm didn’t hesistate when this unforeseen opportunity was presented to him. The powerful southpaw was already training for a Jan. 28 fight in Meridian, Miss., so he was in fighting shape.
“It’s a terrific opportunity and Byarm wanted it,” said Gary Shaw, who co-promotes Byarm with Greg Cohen. “He pushed for it. He took it on short notice, even when he hasn’t had time to adjust his head to who he’s fighting and strategies and the right sparring against an opponent that’s similar. So I give credit not only to Byarm, but to both fighters. They both deserve credit. One of them is going to come out as a force in the future to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division.”
The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Byarm has lost just once since taking up boxing at 23. British heavyweight prospect Tyson Fury (17-0, 12 KOs) out-pointed Byarm in an amateur match in Philadelphia, midway through an abbreviated amateur career he completed with a 9-1 record.
Byarm appreciates this unusual chance, a shot to fight in a nationally televised main event when he had never been scheduled for even an eight-round bout before he accepted this fight on Monday.
“I’m beyond excited,” said Byarm, who resides and trains in Washington, D.C. “My whole professional career, we’ve been trying to get fights scheduled for Philadelphia. Obviously, none of them came through, so this right now is one of those better-late-than-never-type situations. It’s perfect. I can honestly say this is a perfect fight. It’s perfect for me and Bryant. It’s great all-around.”
Byarm, nicknamed “Freight Train,” expects a raucous crowd for a main event that’ll pit a South Philly fighter (him) against one from North Philly.
“I want to show people I’m strong, I’m powerful, I’ve got skill,” Byarm said, “that I’m in great shape, that I’m always in great shape, and I am legitimately an American heavyweight prospect.”
Keith Idec covers boxing for The Record and Herald News, of Woodland Park, N.J., and BoxingScene.com.
