Byrd planning his comeback!

Byrd planning his comeback! May 29, 2006 By Bob Caico Photos: Bob Caico

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Former WBO and IBF Heavyweight Champion, Chris Byrd (39-3-1), stopped into Ron Resnick’s Roc Boxing & Fitness Center in Rochester, NY on Saturday afternoon. Byrd was a guest speaker at the First Bible Baptist Church this Memorial Day weekend and took the opportunity to stop in the local boxing gym to workout with some of the kids from the area. Fightnews spoke to the former champion before he started his session. What brings you here today champ? Actually what brings me to Rochester was that I’m speaking at the First Bible Baptist Church so we have a lot of things scheduled for me while I’m in town, especially for boxing. There is a gym here, we got into contact with Ron Resnick and we are here today. You know with kids and boxing, I got to be there. It has been a little over a month since you lost your title, I’m sure you have been through a lot of emotions back in forth, are you leaning one way or another on your career? Oh I will continue to box, many people have told me what I did in last fight. As Hasim Rahman said, I fought a big man's fight, everyone in boxing knows what I can do and should do in the ring. They know watching that fight it wasn’t the way I usually do, I let my emotions get the best of me. I take nothing away from Wladimir Klitschko, he fought a smart fight, he is a big guy and he capitalized on being big. He pushed me around and busted me up pretty good. It was a major wake up call for me to get back to do what and I haven’t done in the last 5 fights since I won the title. After Holyfield I fought Oquendo and if you noticed I went forward and tried to make a fight, that’s not my style. The Golota and McCline fight I tried to fight them in the trenches, that’s not my fight. Now when I continue boxing, there is not many more fights left, but the fights I do have left it will be pure boxing, getting back to what I normally do. Do you see in your future a rematch with Wladimir or one of the other titlists? It doesn’t matter, I’ll love a fight with Klitschko, and I’m a competitor like that. I kicked myself after the fight. What was I doing? What was I thinking? What ever is lucrative and makes sense to both fighters that will be the way to go. I just want to make matches and have fun doing it. I’m not fretting on winning the title as I used to be, not as bad when first coming up when I was always denied. Someone want to fight me let’s do it, I won’t turn down anything.

Comments (20)

keystone30pack

i hope he isnt going to come back, nothing against him, but i think that he has lost the drive. i'm sure he has to defend himself all the time with his wife(nagging), must be exhausting. if he does come back he'd be better served in the cruiserwieght division, the heavies are too big now, and he'd be the perfect size to fight the cruisers. although, i'd like to watch him fight james toney, just to see how byrd would fight toney after toney keeps calling byrd's wife "Piggy Smalls".....classic trash talk from toney. i wonder if byrd would fight mad?.....hhhmm yes byrd should fight in the cruisers although bryd v mormeck would still have him get bullied around possibly i havent given that fight much thought so don't rip my comment

20y ago

TheGreat1

Byrd sucks. Oquendo beat his ass but the judges were stupid that night. Can you imagine if Fres was given that fight, then losing to Ruiz. Ruiz would have been our recognized champ. that would have really sucked.

20y ago

jabsRstiff

Byrd is now a hittable fighter. His ability to avoid punches is what got him as far as it did in the heavyweight division. He really has little to fall back on. He should be steered clear of the big, decent guys....if he does indeed continue to fight.

20y ago

deuce_drop

20y ago

moochi

fking dumb journalists..........how the fk is it a comeback? when did he retire to make a comeback!!??? some ppl are just so dumb!

20y ago

chidave

Byrd can still present problems for alot of heavyweights. I don't think any of the big boys would give him a shot though, if he goes back to his boxing style, he can make you look real bad until you catch him. I think he would give Rahman all he wants, but doubt that fight will ever happen. He definatley needs to stay away from the Klits, Liakovichs however..

20y ago

_Mr_Soprano

yea...you talking decision all the way...neither fighter couldnt knock a fly out....toney would simply pick him apart.. I would not be so sure.. Toney used to pick apaer average joe boxers.. Byrd has a unique style and not sure Toney would have such an easy time with him. Byrd - southpaw, good hand speed, technique, can counter, and could be slick... Like I said.. it's a fight I would want to watch

20y ago

ROSEWOOD

Like the man said on the Main Page, Byrd should drop down to cruiserweight and fight Bell, or anybody at that weight. Let the big boys alone; nobody wants to see a blown-up middleweight who's defensive skills have eroded, and could never punch to begin with. It's just no fun! And the heavyweights are supposed to be fun to watch, that's why people hate him. CW may not be a bad idea for byrd...he may actually be a nice fighter then...hell, maybe knock a few dudes out..

20y ago

ROSEWOOD

Byrd should fight Toney... that would be one of the fights I would want to watch... yea...you talking decision all the way...neither fighter couldnt knock a fly out....toney would simply pick him apart..

20y ago

Renegade

20y ago

_Mr_Soprano

Byrd should fight Toney... that would be one of the fights I would want to watch...

20y ago

ROSEWOOD

oh and its cool playa....

20y ago

ROSEWOOD

bryd can beat rahman, can beat maskaev. and lahoBIcth nope, not Rahman....maybe maskeav...That I dude would knock him out cold..That dude has great power and byrd has none..to counter that he shoul be a great BOXER....but he isnt...

20y ago

ROSEWOOD

get back on topic n quit trying to up ur post count, byrd did do wrong things in that fight, but i think the end result would b the same, he doesnt really have power in either hand for a ko so hed have to run from vlads right hand all nite, mayb he could a back when he was good, but not now, hes skills have dimished and now these europeeons r getting all the belts :mad: :hijacked: post count...naw playa just talking boxing....but yea the euro's are coming on strong...they bring differents styles to the sport and I must say I kind of like it...Byrd will never see another title again..he is horrible in my eyes..maybe a paper belt as someone called it..

20y ago

sleazyfellow

LOL...now I see why everyone was bashin your a$$ in the thunderdome..I'm glad I got punks like you watching my acct. It let me know your age when you do crap like that...lol...how old are you little boy, 12yrs..oh thats right school is out for the summer....lol get back on topic n quit trying to up ur post count, byrd did do wrong things in that fight, but i think the end result would b the same, he doesnt really have power in either hand for a ko so hed have to run from vlads right hand all nite, mayb he could a back when he was good, but not now, hes skills have dimished and now these europeeons r getting all the belts :mad: :hijacked:

20y ago

ROSEWOOD

chill man. oh mommy gets on your a$$ and now its chill...kids these days...

20y ago

ROSEWOOD

chill man. its friendly banter, he knows i dont mean it. I dont know you playa...no friendly banter here...stop playing lil boy..

20y ago

BIGPOPPAPUMP

20y ago

ROSEWOOD

LMAO!!!!!!!!!! Dude...was it that funny???

20y ago

ROSEWOOD

stfu u sad peice of shit. u opened your account in MAY 2006 and you have already racked up 697 posts thats (25.79 posts per day) pls do me a favour and consider playing halo instead. u geek LOL...now I see why everyone was bashin your a$$ in the thunderdome..I'm glad I got punks like you watching my acct. It let me know your age when you do crap like that...lol...how old are you little boy, 12yrs..oh thats right school is out for the summer....lol

20y ago