Klitschko/Byrd article

Is Vitali Klitschko Out Of Chris Byrd's Reach? Last update: 11-19-2004 Submitted by Frank Lotierzo By Frank Lotierzo - GlovedFist@Juno.com - If he was just a few inches taller and a little heavier with just a little more punch, he could beat the fighter who is considered the man to beat in the division. Conversely, if the fighter considered the man to beat wasn't so much bigger he wouldn't be the man to beat. I'm talking about a potential match between IBF heavyweight champ Chris Byrd and WBC champ Vitali Klitschko. As of November 10th USA Today Ranks the top-ten heavyweights as follows, 1-Vitali Klitschko 2-Chris Byrd 3-James Toney 4-John Ruiz 5-Hasim Rahman 6-Andrew Golota 7-Jameel McCline 8-Lamon Brewster 9-Fres Oquendo 10-Monte Barrett. As of this writing, if forced to make the case for the top heavyweight fighter in boxing, it would have to be either Vitali Klitschko or Chris Byrd, with John Ruiz a solid third. In head to head bouts versus the top-ten Byrd is 3-0-1, Ruiz is 3-0, and Klitschko is 0-1. However, based off his last three fights against Corrie Sanders, Kirk Johnson, and Lennox Lewis, Klitschko has to be among the top two. And based off the fact that he holds a win over Klitschko and the rest of his body of work, Byrd ranks as his equal at the least. Which isn't the same as saying he could beat him. If Byrd and Klitschko were to meet down the road, it would be their second meeting. Thirteen months after suffering the first defeat of his career, Byrd traveled to Germany in April of 2000 and dealt Vitali the first defeat of his career. Byrd was declared the winner when Klitschko couldn't continue after the ninth round due an injured shoulder. Later Klitschko was diagnosed with having a torn rotator cuff. When Klitschko-Byrd is mentioned, it is always brought up that Vitali was winning and was up on all three judges cards, (88-83, 88-83, 89-82) when the fight ended. What is never brought up is that Byrd took the fight on 10 days notice when Razor Ruddock, Klitschko's original opponent pulled out due to a hepatitis infection. In the four years that have passed since they fought, Klitschko and Byrd have ascended to the front of the heavyweight pack. Klitschko is 7-1 and has captured the WBC title. His only loss was to heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis in June of 2003. Lewis was declared the winner when the bout was stopped after the sixth round due Klitschko suffering a severe cut over his eye. At the time of the stoppage, Klitschko was ahead 58-56 on all three of the judges scorecards. In his fight with Lewis, Vitali answered the questions that some had about him after the fight with Byrd regarding his character and heart. Klitschko is 2-0 since and stopped Corrie Sanders in his last fight to win the vacant WBC heavyweight title. Byrd is 7-1-1 since beating Vitali. The loss came in his next fight when he lost a decision to Wladimir Klitschko. After losing to Wladimir, Byrd won a unanimous decision over David Tua, and won the vacant IBF title by out boxing Evander Holyfield over twelve rounds in December of 2002. Since winning the title, Byrd has defended it three times against fighters who all currently rank in USA Today's top ten going 2-0-1. As far as I'm concerned, if there was an elimination tournament involving the top ten heavyweights in boxing, only Byrd and Klitschko, or Klitschko and Byrd would get first round byes and occupy the top two seeds. If there is an active heavyweight who a better case can be made on his behalf justifying him being ranked above either Byrd or Klitschko in a hypothetical tournament, he must be in the witness protection program. If Vitali Klitschko and Chris Byrd are the top of the food-chain in the heavyweight division, as I believe, then only a fight between them could determine who is the world's top heavyweight fighter. And despite the fact that Byrd has defeated Klitschko, because of the way their fight ended with Klitschko leading but having to surrender due to an injury, most regard it as a Klitschko win. And if they were to meet in their next fight, Klitschko would be a solid favorite based on one thing, his size. Let's face it, in a Klitschko-Byrd rematch, those who would pick Klitschko would be doing so strictly because of his tremendous size advantage. If they were both 6' foot weighing 210 pounds, Byrd would win 36 out of 36 minutes over 12 rounds. Even spotting Klitschko seven inches in height and 40-45 pounds, it wouldn't be a walkover for Vitali and it's not a given that he'd stop Byrd. However, Klitschko is significantly bigger than Byrd and that comes with the territory in the heavyweight division. Anyone who has read anything I've written regarding the heavyweight division knows my feeling on the so-called giant heavyweights of today. I think most of them are ponderous and not in top shape. Some of them can punch because of their size and weight, but their opponent needs to be standing right in front of them with their hands down and chins up in order for them to land a clean shot. But in the case of Chris Byrd and Vitali Klitschko, their physical size is everything. It's Klitschko's size and strength that makes him the fighter to beat in the division. Despite being a little robotic and not very fast, he is a decent boxer and knows how to use his size. On top of that he has something that most big heavyweights usually lack, tremendous conditioning. Vitali has a terrific work ethic and can fight at a pretty good pace over 12 rounds. He is also very tough and has a terrific chin. That's a lot for another heavyweight to overcome who isn't big or a great puncher. Chris Byrd is also very tough and takes a great punch. However, he can only survive against Vitali by boxing and trying to beat him with speed. Byrd is a slick and cagey boxer, but that probably wouldn't be enough to carry him past Klitschko. I think a huge determining factor in the fight would be Byrd's inability to hurt Klitschko. Vitali is just too big and strong for Chris to move and box the whole fight. Somewhere along the way he'd have to fight Klitschko off him. I just don't think he has the power to turn the fight or slow down Klitschko's pursuit. We saw how Byrd had trouble with Oquendo and Golota when they used their size and strength. And Klitschko is bigger, stronger, hits harder and applies more mental and physical pressure than either one of them. Even McCline troubled Byrd for a while because of his size and mass. Only McCline lost his confidence when Byrd raised the rent after the fifth round and started to tire and fade. I don't think Klitschko loses his gumption if Byrd answers him and fights back with a sense of urgency. Another advantage Klitschko has in my opinion is, I think Byrd is getting worn down by too many tough fights. I'm not convinced he is quite as sharp and brilliant as he was two or three years ago. On the other hand, Klitschko is at his peak both mentally and physically at this time, and his confidence has never been higher. If Byrd were just a little bigger and had a little more punch, I doubt anybody in the division would touch him. He's quick and smart, tough and determined, and has a huge heart and doesn't know the meaning of quit. However, he turned pro as a super-middleweight and really isn't a full-fledged heavyweight. Only because he's as tough as he is good has he been able to be so successful and accomplish all that he has in the heavyweight division. But I think Klitschko is just too big for him at this time. Vitali Klitschko is the fighter to beat in the heavyweight division right now. In my opinion, Klitschko is the most formidable heavyweight in boxing because of his size. But not solely because of it. To go along with his size, he's just a good enough boxer, just a good enough puncher, has very good stamina and strength, and is very tough and determined and takes a terrific punch. That's too much for the heavyweights of this era to overcome. Based on their accomplishments and ability as fighters, Chris Byrd and Vitali Klitschko have to be at the top of any list that ranks the best heavyweight fighters in the world. And if they were the same size, I haven't a doubt that Byrd would win 10 out of 10. But they're not the same size, that's why Klitschko would come out on top in a rematch.