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Editor: It's been a while since we had you on . Last time we spoke, you made it clear that you're going to be debuting at 175 in your next fight. Since then, we spoke with Antonio Tarver, he loves the idea. I'm sure you're aware of his remarks. Is there anything you'd like to say in response to Tarver?
Chris Byrd: "Tarver's got to handle his business first. Clinton Woods is not an easy opponent, he's a champion, but if he gets past him, we've got business to talk about. I fight all of them, starting with Tarver, beat him, then beat the next guy, and be the next champion. I want to unify the light heavyweight division. I'm coming in to make things happen, and I'm ready to fight every single one of them guys. I don't care what steps I have to take to get to champion, but I want to make major fights, major matches in this division. Not only to make fights, but to win them."
"I'm a two time heavyweight champion going down to light heavyweight, I don't think that's ever been done. I'm going down to light heavyweight to win belts. That's my goal, before I leave this game, I want to make a mark on boxing by doing that. I want to make big matches in this division. There's a lot of guys out there, right now that are pretty good and are hot in this division. Not only in America, but around the world. I respect everyone, the light heavyweights out there, but I'm coming to make a mark. I'm coming here to make matches, if you want to come fight a former two time world champion, the #1 heavyweight at one point, then lets do it, step up."
Editor: You were the #1 heavyweight before Wladimir Klitschko became the #1 heavyweight by beating you.
Chris Byrd: I was, that's true. My weight is good, I feel strong, and I'm ready to make matches, I'm ready to fight. I'm telling you, I'm bringing it, I'm bringing everything. I'm much stronger at my natural weight, I'm getting much stronger. The skill is still there.
Editor: Does that mean that since you're feeling much stronger at 175 and accustomed to getting hit by bigger guys, that Chris Byrd the boxer is resting in peace? Now we're going to be seeing the Chris Byrd who was stepping to Andrew Golota?
CB: Of course, so I'm hoping the light heavyweights will be willing to make matches, and not be scared of that. I'm bringing it, and I don't care about you guys skill, good for you. You've got to bring more than skill, you've got to bring power, because I know I can take it. That's why I moved all the way down to light heavyweight. I didn't want to stop at cruiserweight, when I was sparring with those guys, they felt bigger. I decided to get back down to light heavyweight, and go back to where I was, and see what kind of matches we can make, and make great fights hopefully. I'm ready to do this.
Editor: What's the earliest you can return to the ring?
CB: I'm hoping for myself in May or June. I'm ready to do it, I've been training, I'm going back to the gym, and I've been running. I'm feeling good, my calves are strong. Everything is there, it's time to use it.
Editor: The last time we spoke you were already in the low 180's. Where are you at now?
CB: I weighed 178 today, that's from just running. I'm maintaining between 178-182 all the time, that's my normal walk-around weight. It's no problem for me to make 175, that's nothing. I can make it all the way down to 168, if Iwanted to. I could really go back to my amatuer weight, or close to it. So, 175 is a better fit. For all the people that thought I was on something, I've heard they thought I was on something illegal.
Editor: You were just on you wife's cooking?
CB: I was on Tracie's cooking hard. I don't have a personal trainer, I don't have anybody I lift weights with. I do everything by myself at home, always done it. I told people for years that I was really an artificial heavyweight. I wasn't even a cruiserweight, I was just under 200 pounds when I was training to fight big heavyweights. I dont know anything about any illegal substances, I don't know nothing about that. I heard about it when I was champion, about most other guys being on some stuff, I thought it couldn't be. I didn't know anything about it, and I still don't. I wouldn't know where to get it, or anything. For people that said that I must be on something for dropping all this weight.
Editor: Closing thoughts.
CB: I love my fans, thank you for the e-mails about my weight. If I haven't gotten back, if you e-mail me I'll hit you back.
Chris Byrd: "Tarver's got to handle his business first. Clinton Woods is not an easy opponent, he's a champion, but if he gets past him, we've got business to talk about. I fight all of them, starting with Tarver, beat him, then beat the next guy, and be the next champion. I want to unify the light heavyweight division. I'm coming in to make things happen, and I'm ready to fight every single one of them guys. I don't care what steps I have to take to get to champion, but I want to make major fights, major matches in this division. Not only to make fights, but to win them."
"I'm a two time heavyweight champion going down to light heavyweight, I don't think that's ever been done. I'm going down to light heavyweight to win belts. That's my goal, before I leave this game, I want to make a mark on boxing by doing that. I want to make big matches in this division. There's a lot of guys out there, right now that are pretty good and are hot in this division. Not only in America, but around the world. I respect everyone, the light heavyweights out there, but I'm coming to make a mark. I'm coming here to make matches, if you want to come fight a former two time world champion, the #1 heavyweight at one point, then lets do it, step up."
Editor: You were the #1 heavyweight before Wladimir Klitschko became the #1 heavyweight by beating you.
Chris Byrd: I was, that's true. My weight is good, I feel strong, and I'm ready to make matches, I'm ready to fight. I'm telling you, I'm bringing it, I'm bringing everything. I'm much stronger at my natural weight, I'm getting much stronger. The skill is still there.
Editor: Does that mean that since you're feeling much stronger at 175 and accustomed to getting hit by bigger guys, that Chris Byrd the boxer is resting in peace? Now we're going to be seeing the Chris Byrd who was stepping to Andrew Golota?
CB: Of course, so I'm hoping the light heavyweights will be willing to make matches, and not be scared of that. I'm bringing it, and I don't care about you guys skill, good for you. You've got to bring more than skill, you've got to bring power, because I know I can take it. That's why I moved all the way down to light heavyweight. I didn't want to stop at cruiserweight, when I was sparring with those guys, they felt bigger. I decided to get back down to light heavyweight, and go back to where I was, and see what kind of matches we can make, and make great fights hopefully. I'm ready to do this.
Editor: What's the earliest you can return to the ring?
CB: I'm hoping for myself in May or June. I'm ready to do it, I've been training, I'm going back to the gym, and I've been running. I'm feeling good, my calves are strong. Everything is there, it's time to use it.
Editor: The last time we spoke you were already in the low 180's. Where are you at now?
CB: I weighed 178 today, that's from just running. I'm maintaining between 178-182 all the time, that's my normal walk-around weight. It's no problem for me to make 175, that's nothing. I can make it all the way down to 168, if Iwanted to. I could really go back to my amatuer weight, or close to it. So, 175 is a better fit. For all the people that thought I was on something, I've heard they thought I was on something illegal.
Editor: You were just on you wife's cooking?
CB: I was on Tracie's cooking hard. I don't have a personal trainer, I don't have anybody I lift weights with. I do everything by myself at home, always done it. I told people for years that I was really an artificial heavyweight. I wasn't even a cruiserweight, I was just under 200 pounds when I was training to fight big heavyweights. I dont know anything about any illegal substances, I don't know nothing about that. I heard about it when I was champion, about most other guys being on some stuff, I thought it couldn't be. I didn't know anything about it, and I still don't. I wouldn't know where to get it, or anything. For people that said that I must be on something for dropping all this weight.
Editor: Closing thoughts.
CB: I love my fans, thank you for the e-mails about my weight. If I haven't gotten back, if you e-mail me I'll hit you back.
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