Chris Byrd - Could He Have Beaten Wilder?

Unlikely. Byrd has no answer for the quick 1-2.
Even he admits this himself and said he'd sooner fight mike tyson and AJ before D. Wilder

 

gets run through by mike, similar to the Ikey fight.

 

Byrd boxes him silly till he’s flat on his back, staring at the lights.

 

You can read that two ways one as Byrd KOing Wilder and the other as Byrd winning till he get's KO'd. I read it as the latter and was confused for a second there.

 

If it’s a question of whether or not Byrd has a “ chance “ then I will say yes. Chris took on some very big men and could box and move. If it’s a matter of “ favoring “ him then I might have to say no. Wilder for all his limitations hit very hard and carried his power late into fights if he needed to. Byrd isn’t likely going to last 12 full rounds and not get tagged. In addition, Deontay was very durable and I don’t think Chris can hit him with anything that’s going to gain his respect.

 

Absolutely yes.

 

He could but it's unlikely. About a 25% chance imo.

 

If it goes to the scorecards, anybody really think the Byrdman gets the nod over a Haymen moneymaker?

 

I would very nervously make Byrd the favorite.

 

I don't make fantasy fight predictions, that factor in corrupt officiating, unless the OP directs me to do so.

 

Byrd lasts the 12 and wins by UD.

 

Lets look at the key difference between them.

Wilder was a heavyweight, with one of the hardest punches in history.

He took the easiest route to a belt that he could find, and then set a newish low for quality of title defenses.

Byrd was a man who could have clearly made light heavyweight, or cruiserweight easily, when he was campaigning at heavyweight.

He went toe to toe with the Klitschko brothers three times, and boxed Tua's ears off.

I respect Byrd a lot more than Wilder!

 

Byrd wins every round.