Chris Byrd appreciation

[Cachibatches]

I really wanted Povetkin to have a dominant perfromance on Saturday, because Alexander is a determined, experienced, and talented fighter, and because we need new blood in this division. And I really felt that Byrd was a finished as a good heavyweight well before he lost the title to Kilt.

But looking at the presser clips, suddenly this is killing me. Byrd came up on the Tuesday night fight days, and a lot of us watched him beating decent fringe guys like Linoel Butler and Phil Jackson. It seems a different world- when you can see a fighter enough to really develope a sort of relationship with him.

And Bryd was terrific. Us fans never held it against him that he wasn't a big KO guy- what a story, the he was so confident that he just jumped up from supermiddle to take on heavies. Sean O'grady compared him to a humming bird- that was exaclty right. he was so fast that by the time the other guy wound up, he was nowhere in the area anymore. It was exciting in its own way.

Klit fans are fond of saying that Vitali only lost during injury, I like Klit too, and never held it against him, but I beg to differ. Byrd, depsite being outclassed talent wise, hanged in there and took his beating like a man- and yes, due to some kind of luck or fate, got the big win. The point is- he put himself in that position by his guts.

Winning agaisnt Holy, the exciting Golota fight, even having the guts to get back in the ring with Wladdy again- so many memories with Chris. Really little things like the last few fights of his reign fade in comparison.

Yeah, Povetikin is probably going to win. Yeah, he's good guy and the dvivison needs him. Yeah, I will be the first to cheer him in his quest to become a champ and an ATG.

But I just feel sorry that another era is probably about to be permanently ended.

Here's to you, Chis! Thanks for the memories.

[geppy]

Yeah, Byrd will likely lose, and quite badly. Byrd will just have some sort of excuse if he loses!

The Ike fight was stopped to soon. Vlad posioned his gloves. Against Golota he was trying to impress the fans. Against Vlad again , he tried to slug with a 250 lbs HW ( even though Byrd threw like 3 punches the entire fight. ) I think he said him and Mccline were friends., etc, etc.

[ralphc]

Ross Purrity beat Wladimir Klitschko. Nobody thought it could happen yet it did. Don't count Bryd out as yet, Povetkin has yet to be tested by somebody who is capable of beating him.

[geppy]

Ross Purrity beat Wladimir Klitschko. Nobody thought it could happen yet it did. Don't count Bryd out as yet, Povetkin has yet to be tested by somebody who is capable of beating him.

Povetkin has 128 amatuer fights , at world class level. He has seen everything. Byrd is a slowing down counter puncher, who is going to be demoslished.

Byrd stands right in front of opponents, tries to make them miss, then counter. Problem is Povetkin is a very precise puncher, with good handspeed and is not going to miss a target standing right in front of him.

[Langford]

I would like to throw my name into the appreciation thread. A few things that will help you out:

1. Unlike many fighters, Byrd has done a good job of watching his money as far as I can tell.
2. Unless he is completely obliterated, he still has a good few years in him as a solid gatekeeper, he is a well known guy in Europe and would make more money there where many of the big fights happen these days.
3. In the future I think that his stock will rise and he will be rated amongst the best fighters of the post Tyson era, Kind of like how Jimmy Young is considered one of the ten best of the seventies.
4. People will say, had he stayed at cruiser, he would be an ATG at that level.
5. Unlike a lot of fighters, he would make an excellent TV co-host.
6. No harm in losing to Ike, Wlad and Povetkin. It's not like he was taken out by a mediocre fighter.
7. In the future, people will say "he was past it by the time he lost to Wlad the second time and Povetkin" which I don't agree with, but people will say that as a way to be derogatory to both WK and AP.

[Shotgun]

7. In the future, people will say "he was past it by the time he lost to Wlad the second time and Povetkin" which I don't agree with, but people will say that as a way to be derogatory to both WK and AP.

It doesn't matter in Wlad's case. He already shut out a "prime" Byrd with 3 knockdowns thrown in for good measure 6 years prior to the rematch

[Heavyrighthand]

Ross Purrity beat Wladimir Klitschko. Nobody thought it could happen yet it did. Don't count Bryd out as yet, Povetkin has yet to be tested by somebody who is capable of beating him.

Byrd will outbox Povetkin. :good

Povetkin winning would be better for the heavyweight divsion, certainly, but I don't think Povetkin is ready form someone on Byrd's level. Byrd is no Larry Donald. :good