Chris Byrd's resume is underrated

You make a statement but don't explain why you have formed those opinions. Holyfield was 2 years older and had lost and drawn with moderate Ruiz.He was 40 years old! Holyfield got a technical dec over Rahman the result of a head butt
.I don't think you are objective on Chris Byrd.
Please name all the southpaws Lewis fought to enable you to arrive at the conclusion that he didn't cope with them.

 

Byrd had slowed down tremendously at 37 when he fought 13 fight novice Povetkin, but Holyfield was the same at 40 as he had been at 38 when he took Lewis to a close dec in 99?

 

Drew with Andrew Golota, blasted out by Ibeabuchi and got lucky against Vitali due to injury. That's about the level he was at. He was a good fighter, a cutie with an awkward style and great defense. Him outboxing Tua says as much about Tua's limitations as Byrds qualities imo.

Lewis trounces him, Holyfield of 1999 probably decisions him in a close ugly one and prime Tyson destroys him in my view. That's not knocking the guy either. He did have a big heart and a willingness to test himself against the best, plus really good defensive skills and movement. He's also a class act and nice guy. I like the man a lot.

 

This puts Byrd into much needed realistic prospective!

 

This content is protected

​

 

Byrd was a great fighter .. to jump up like he did and fight the giants he did was tremendous .. a very talented boxer with instinct and high boxing IQ .. I believe if he choose to open his career at Cruiserweight he would have been on the best ever .. he went heavyweight for the money and the challenges .. for a blown up 168 pound guy to do what he did is pretty terrific .. especially when you consider the monsters he fought such as McCline, both Klitschkos, Golota, Tua and underrated sleepers like Williamson , Purity, Ribalta .. even Holyfield who was just a few months past beating Rachman .. impressive fighter ..

 

Very good fighter .Great? Not for me.

 

He was undoubtedly a good fighter. Not great but very good considering his size, lack of pop etc.

 

You make a statement but don't explain why you have formed those opinions. Holyfield was 2 years older and lost and drew with moderate Ruiz.He was 40 years old!

 

Byrd and Archie Moore are my favorite picks for greatest never to be Lineal. I am biased because I like their styles lol

 

I'd put Norton, Wills and Langford there too, makes for a perfect top 5 imo.

 

Not for me.It's Langford,and I'd put Wills,Jackson,Jeanette,Godfrey up there with anyone else.Byrd's resume isn't deep enough imo.

 

Jerry Cooney beat Jimmy Young ... And? Young and Holy were faded specters of themselves when they lost those fights.

Its not like Byrd fought a Holy that was anywhere near to his prime is it?

 

He arguably lost all 3 of those fights and probably would have had Don King not been his promoter.

 

Byrd was finished when he fought Wlad in the rematch.. You can kinda tell by the way he had no movement left and was reduced to blocking punches with his face.
That was one of the weakest examples of a title changing hands in HW history.

Tony Bellew could have easily beaten that washed up version of Byrd.