IF Jameel McCline Is Big Time He'll Defeat Chris Byrd

[ProBox1]

He's five inches taller, has an eight inch advantage in reach, and out weighs his opponent by at least sixty pounds. The fighter just described is heavyweight contender Jameel McCline 31-3-3 (19) who is fighting IBF heavyweight Champ Chris Byrd 37-2-1 (20) this Saturday night. Byrd has been the IBF champ for just under two years. In December of 2002 he fought former heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield in Atlantic City for the vacant IBF title. Byrd out boxed Holyfield over 12 rounds and won a unanimous decision to claim the title.

Since winning the title he has successfully defended it twice. In his first defense he won a unanimous decision over Fres Oquendo. The fight with Oquendo was very close. And it's not a reach saying judges Don Ackerman, Steve Epstein, and John Lawson are the only three people in the world who saw it one sided in favor of Byrd. In his last defense this past April, Byrd retained the title when his fight with Andrew Golota was declared a draw after twelve rounds. [details]

[Boxerdog]

"Big Time" has been a huge disapointment. I won a 15 minute phone call from him a long time ago at **********. We hit it off and ended up talking for well over a half hour. He really impressed me with how much belief he had in himself....his confidence was inspiring. It was also BULL ****. He fought Wlad a few months later and I was sickened at how cautious he was.
He just wanted to not be hurt at all and collect the check. No fire. No faith in himself. A very disapointing career since then as well.