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The IBF heavyweight champion, Chris Byrd (38-2-1, 20KOs), is one of the nicest guys that you could ever meet in boxing, unless you get on his bad side. On October 1st, live on Showtime, Chris will defend his championship against close friend DaVarryl Williamson (22-3, 18KOs).
Byrd is the longest reigning heavyweight champion in the division and the only fighter, other than Lennox Lewis, to defeat WBC champion Vitali Klitschko. Byrd has not been happy with his career since becoming the champion, but still has hope for a bright future.
BoxingScene sat down with Byrd to discuss his upcoming fight, his career, the Klitshkos, Samuel Peter and a lot more.
BoxingScene.com: Chris, I know that you and DaVarryl Williamson both knew that you would be fighting each other next, but you were unsure of the exact date and then the date dropped down pretty quick. How long have you been in camp and has the scheduling of the fight affected your training at all?
Chris Byrd: I've been in camp for about 4 to 5 weeks. Nobody knew the exact date (of the fight). Don King kept playing games with the date. He kept saying like the 28th, the date Lamon (Brewster) is fighting. Nobody knew where it was. He kept saying St. Louis as a possible venue, but we had no contract. We had nothing.
The date wasn't definite, it was crazy, it was strange. He wanted to do pay per view on a Wednesday night. I was training, I always train, I always work out. I didn't fly my father in or any sparring partners. I was just running and hitting the bag and kept thinking it may happen. He could of told me the week before and I wouldn't of had no sparring partners then. If it would of been the 28th or whatever date he had, it was a strange thing.
This thing just got put together. I guess Showtime really wanted us on the card so he made it happen. [details]
Byrd is the longest reigning heavyweight champion in the division and the only fighter, other than Lennox Lewis, to defeat WBC champion Vitali Klitschko. Byrd has not been happy with his career since becoming the champion, but still has hope for a bright future.
BoxingScene sat down with Byrd to discuss his upcoming fight, his career, the Klitshkos, Samuel Peter and a lot more.
BoxingScene.com: Chris, I know that you and DaVarryl Williamson both knew that you would be fighting each other next, but you were unsure of the exact date and then the date dropped down pretty quick. How long have you been in camp and has the scheduling of the fight affected your training at all?
Chris Byrd: I've been in camp for about 4 to 5 weeks. Nobody knew the exact date (of the fight). Don King kept playing games with the date. He kept saying like the 28th, the date Lamon (Brewster) is fighting. Nobody knew where it was. He kept saying St. Louis as a possible venue, but we had no contract. We had nothing.
The date wasn't definite, it was crazy, it was strange. He wanted to do pay per view on a Wednesday night. I was training, I always train, I always work out. I didn't fly my father in or any sparring partners. I was just running and hitting the bag and kept thinking it may happen. He could of told me the week before and I wouldn't of had no sparring partners then. If it would of been the 28th or whatever date he had, it was a strange thing.
This thing just got put together. I guess Showtime really wanted us on the card so he made it happen. [details]