Chris Byrd ...... The real paper champion?

**TyrantT316** · 03-06-2005, 01:51 PM

McCline did not win the fight vs Byrd

**Rockin'** · 03-06-2005, 01:55 PM

why should byrd go to germany to fight klitschko, hes the champion. Why subject yourself to the home town decisions if you dont have to. Byrd holds the belt, klitschko wants it, so whose calling the shots. The byrd mans calling them and he is not going to germany. You tell 'em Chris, props.......Rockin'

**leff** · 03-06-2005, 01:58 PM

Originally posted by Torino

Throughout Chris Byrd's IBF championship rein, I've respected his tremendous defense and tried to accept him as a champion.

He beat an elderly boxer in Evander Holyfield to claim the vacant IBF title. At this point in Holyfields career, he was a shell of his former self.

Then he fought a close fight with a questionable outcome against Fres Oquendo.

Followed that with a "draw" against Andrew Golota. (IMO - Golota won that fight and should be IBF champion right now).

And most recently fought Jamile McCline in another close fight with questionable outcome. (Byrd went down in the second round of this fight giving McCline extra points that IMO - Should have given McCline the win.)

Now with his refusal to avenge a loss against Wladimir Klitschko because he doesn't want to fight in Germany (Germany is the most economically viable location for the fight) I have lost all respect for this guy.

He had an opportunity to take a step toward acceptability by avenging a loss against a fighter that's recently had some question marks. This was a golden opportunity for both fighters.

IMO - Chris Byrd has been the recipient of good fortune, but doesn't have what it takes to be a champion and it's only a matter of time before he falls. I will be surprised if he survives his next fight.

What do you think?

I think your right, byrd is a skilled boxer, has a good chin
and is brave enough too fight the big guys even if aint one of them.

But he lost to golota and is now bitching around and to chicken to rematch wlad.

**Warrior Spirit** · 03-06-2005, 02:01 PM

You gotta understand, Chris Byrd is an incredibly undersized HW and the fact that he has a title belt is a mark of the mans perseverance, will power, and guts. While your right he has had some close fights in the past,(Oquendo-I felt he lost that fight by two points, Golota-I feel he won this fight by 2 points,and MCcline- which i also feel Byrd won by 2 points.)

Lets look at the weights of his last three fights.

Byrd 211.5 Oquendo 220

Byrd 210.5 Golota 237.5

Byrd 214 Mccline 270

Chris Byrd is always the smaller guy coming in and against Mccline well he was the incredibly smaller guy. This has to count for something, because no matter how skilled you are if the other guy is just to big, than that skill means very little. Plus Byrd has actual boxing talent, he knows how to fight, and he is very slick for a HW, I respect his skills and the fact that he is always the smaller man.

The main differences between him, Brewster and Ruiz, is that the man can fight and he actually boxes who makes for exciting fights. Ruiz just holds, holds, hits, repeat. Brewster just gets hit. Anybody who says Byrd does not make for exciting fights is a moron who hasn't seen his last three.

Chris Byrd is what he is, and thats an undersized, underpowered, incredibly talented fighter who is starting to get old, and will lose sooner rather than later.

**Warrior Spirit** · 03-06-2005, 02:05 PM

Originally posted by Rockin1

why should byrd go to germany to fight klitschko, hes the champion. Why subject yourself to the home town decisions if you dont have to. Byrd holds the belt, klitschko wants it, so whose calling the shots. The byrd mans calling them and he is not going to germany. You tell 'em Chris, props.......Rockin'

I totally agree. Why should Chris go to Germany, which is notoriously biased aganist foriegn fighters and risk it, even if it is the most economically feasible.

Not all people think in dollar signs, and in addition the man is the champion, why should he bow to Wladimir and his demands who has looked unimpressive to say the least in is last 4 or 5 fights and IMO does not deserve a title shot.

**leff** · 03-06-2005, 02:10 PM

True that he is undersized and skilled.

But you cant excuse a heavy for not fighting a big man like wlad, if he doesnt want to fight that kind of a bear he shouldnt be in hw.

Well okay wlad does not deserve a tittle shot, but the fact that its like 90% certain that he would beat byrd again and the fact that mcline and golota didnt deserve. Doesnt that mean that they should fight???

**Neuraxis** · 03-06-2005, 02:12 PM

So who is Byrd going to fight now instead of Wlad? Barrett won't be ready in time. Will he fight two other Wlad victims, TOS or Jefferson? Its going to be interesting how they will try to pass off this crap as PPV. The suspense is killing me.

**Neuraxis** · 03-06-2005, 02:15 PM

Originally posted by leff

True that he is undersized and skilled.

But you cant excuse a heavy for not fighting a big man like wlad, if he doesnt want to fight that kind of a bear he shouldnt be in hw.

Well okay wlad does not deserve a tittle shot, but the fact that its like 90% certain that he would beat byrd again and the fact that mcline and golota didnt deserve. Doesnt that mean that they should fight???

Neither did Oquendo.

**Warrior Spirit** · 03-06-2005, 02:18 PM

Originally posted by leff

True that he is undersized and skilled.

But you cant excuse a heavy for not fighting a big man like wlad, if he doesnt want to fight that kind of a bear he shouldnt be in hw.

Well okay wlad does not deserve a tittle shot, but the fact that its like 90% certain that he would beat byrd again and the fact that mcline and golota didnt deserve. Doesnt that mean that they should fight???

Well, your correct, being undersized should not be an excuse, but Byrd hasn't made that an issue, and I don't think that has anything to do with him not wanting to fight Wlad. I don't think he wants to fight Wladimir for a number of reasons.

1)Wladimir destroyed his ass the first time around
2)Wlad demands the fight take place in Germany
3)Byrd feels that Wlad is an unworthy challenger and I agree with him.
4)Byrd is the champion and should be able to dictate the terms of the fight.

I think that Byrd should either sign to fight Barrett or fight Wlad(the public pressure is too much for Chris to avoid), there is no one else out there that really deserves a shot other than Barrett.

Chris Byrd ...... The real paper champion?