OK gents, this is the classic forum so expect sophisticated answers. Discuss Byrd v these three opponents. Ps. Not on the same night. If I posted this in general they would think I meant that Byrd fight these guys on the same night. Cheers.
Basically Byrd wasn't a true elite HW in my view. He racked up some nice wins over Tua, McCline, TOS, Vitali if you want to count him, Holyfield, and Oquendo. A draw with Golota isn't horrible, either. But in almost all of these fights, the decisions could or maybe should of gone either way and in the Vitali fight he lucked out. I think Byrd's record makes him look better than he is, he really was only a slight step up from Oquendo. I give him about no chance against Joe. Horrible matchup for him and Frazier would be all over him. Spinks-Byrd would be horrible to watch but Spinks is a simply better fighter. Michael Spinks isn't going to lose to someone who doesn't have considerable physical advantages over him and isn't a natural HW. I don't see Byrd surviving Foreman.
I don't see how anyone could survive the rapid fire power that Chris Byrd had to offer. Joe Frazier would've been punched in the chest so many times he couldn't even fire that left hook. Foreman would be too slow. Spinks...people thought the Tyson fight was an embarrassment! How fast would Byrd do the job!
Byrd wasn't going to survive and beat Foreman like Jimmy Young did. Byrd was, compared to many big heavyweights in his era, slick, fast and clever, but not in Young's league as a defensive whiz. Foreman would have found him, ala Ibeabuchi, and gotten him out of there in 6 rounds or less. Frazier's indomitable pressure, workrate and power..ditto..Frazier stops him before 10...how in the hell does Byrd eclipse Ali's showing against a FOTC version Joe Frazier?......and a patient, awkward Michael Spinks beats him as well, though maybe by a decision after putting him on the deck, as he did vs Eddie Mustafa Muhammad.
Frazier would wear him down and force a stoppage, far more active and consistent in his attack than David the turtle Tua but he would look bad in the early rounds as most of Byrd's opponent's did. Now I do think Byrd at his best is in Young's class as a spoiler, he might very well upset Foreman in the same manner. I wouldn't read too much into the shocking Ike loss, which was early in his career and helped him grow as a fighter much like Young's blowout to Shavers did.
A chess match between Chris Byrd and Michael Spinks might have been interesting.. Spinks was pound for pound the better fighter, but Chris spent a lot more time at heavy weight, and faced many more rated fighters at that class... I think Spinks probably starts off slow, while Chris uses his quickness and boxing ability to rack up points early.. As the fight goes on, Spinks begins to get into his groove and uses is awkeward style to baffle Byrd a little bit, perhaps even starts landing some of those big right hands.... Not sure who takes it between these two, but I think it probably goes to the cards... My inclination is to pick Michael by a narrow decision, but I say that with no real conviction...
I honestly can't imagine Byrd doing too much against Joe Frazier, except perhaps merely surviving. Frazier was a man who would always have a good boxer's number, and as good as Chris is, he simply is no Ali. I think Byrd takes to many shots and probably gets worn down late in this one, or looses a clear decision...
