CHRIS BYRD PROFILE AND BIO

Chris Byrd quickly established his punching power by knocking out ten of his first 13 opponents. He remained undefeated for 26 fights, knocking off notable opponents like Uriah Grant, Bert Cooper, Frankie Swindell, Jimmy Thunder and Ross Purity.

He entered his fight with Ike Ibeabuchi in March 1999 with a secret. He had separated his ribs while sparring with his oldest brother, but he hid the fact from everyone, including his father. He paid the price in the ring while facing the legendary tough Ibeabuchi. Byrd was caught by a left hand while on the ropes in the fifth round and appeared as though he would survive the round when the referee stopped the match with just one second remaining.

He kept fighting and winning until he received a phone call that all boxers dream of. If he could make it to Berlin, Germany, in seven days, he could be a last minute replacement and vie for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight title against undefeated Vitali Klitschko. Byrd jumped to the challenge. In the 5th round, he began to back up the 6 foot 9 inch giant, much to the Russian’s dismay. He continued to press the action, landing power punches. Klitschko returned to his corner at the end of the 9th round, complaining of shoulder pain. He and his corner decided he was unable to continue, and Byrd walked away with a win and the fulfillment of a dream, a world heavweight title.

The next opponent for Chris Byrd, six months later, was Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali’s highly regarded younger brother. Again he travelled to Germany, this time to Cologne, to make his first title defence in October 2000. Byrd suffered a tear in the cornea of his left eye in the 2nd round, which hampered his trademark elusive style and made him an easier target for the Russian. He lasted twelve rounds in a fight where he had to take more punishment than ever before, but lost a unanimous decision.

He went on to give the hard-hitting David Tua a boxing lesson in Las Vegas in August 2001, in an IBF heavyweight elimination bout which cemented him in the No. 1 position.

His day to fight for the IBF Heavyweight Championship finally arrived. With Lennox Lewis opting not to fight his mandatory defence against Byrd and vacating his title. Instead, he fought the next available contender, four-time world heavyweight champion, Evander Holyfield. Byrd won a unanimous decision and the title in an impressive performance against one of the best fighters in history.

He faced “Fast” Fres Oquendo in his first title defence in September 2003. Oquendo fought the fight of his life in a very close match that ended in a split decision victory for Byrd.

Never one to avoid a challenge, he agreed to meet his stylistic opposite, brawling Andrew Golota, who gave his best performance since 1996 when he faced Riddick Bowe in two epic clashes. After going the distance, the judges could not determine a winner.

Byrd is delighted to be defending his title again on November 13. “Jameel McCline is my friend and we tried to avoid fighting each other, but eventually the top guys have to fight. I fought my brother Patrick in the amateurs, and although I love him, we fought like dogs. May the best man win,” he said.