Byrd was pretty used to fighting big men who could punch. And the later version of Ruddock who abandoned his boxing skills to score knockouts was somewhat one dimensional. So for that reason I’ll narrowly favor Byrd to win a decision. But there’s always the caveat of a huge Razor smash left..
The Ruddock of the Tyson fights beats ANY version of Byrd. The only question is whether Byrd makes it to the final bell.
I favour Byrd on points. Ruddock doesn’t have the straight punches to beat him on the outside, so he’d have to back Byrd up and try to replicate what Ibeabuchi landed, which he certainly could, especially as Byrd ducks, but I believe Byrd would be able to stay away and outbox him on most occasions.
That punch the caused the first KD...and basically the beginning of the end in the Ibeabuchi-Byrd fight...looked something like the hook/uppercut hybrid that Ruddock used to throw. I would expect the same result if Ruddock landed it. Having said that, I'm taking Byrd by UD. He should be skilled enough to stay clear of what is basically Ruddock's one and only serious weapon, which he just loaded up on and would throw every so often. I doubt that strategy by Ruddock works here.
Ruddock always has that equaliser but Byrd is exactly the type of opponent who makes a puncher look clumsy. Think of how he handled bigger hitter's,he just takes their best weapons away. Byrd wins by clear decision or late ko.
