Rewatching Vitali vs Byrd

Vitali often gets a pass for this loss.

And the way Wlad beat Byrd soon after leads to many assuming Vitali would have repeated the trick as well.

Truth be told I put myself firmly in both camps, however I have always believed that had this fight gone the full distance that Byrd was heading for a points victory.

So anyways, I'm about to watch it now, rbr and will post my live scorecard as it happens.

 

Pre amble: Vitali was a hot favourite for the Olympics but was derailed by a drug test.

Measurements given as:
Height - 6'8
Reach - 79
Weight - 244
Age - 28

This really should have been his coming out party.

 

Vitali beat Hide in a come from behind victory and hadn't defended against anyone of note until now.

 

Byrd has lost to Ike but has a decent reputation at this point.

 

Vitali has stopped everyone he's fought and its between him, Grant and Tua to be seen as the next heir apparent.

 

Good round by Vitali, constant pressure behind the pawing jab, although Byrd does a good job of parrying it and stopping it getting through.

Vitali does work the body a bit as well apparently for the first time in his career according to the commentary.

Byrd is doing a good job of slipping and sliding, but too much gets through and it's a very clear Vitali round

10-9

 

Round 2 is more competitive as Byrd counters well at times, but Vitali is just so relentless with that pressure I can't give the round against him.

Vitali misses with some big right hands but he switches things up to the body well and still gets through enough times.

20-18

 

Round 3 is even more competitive. Vitali lowers his volume as Byrd ups his.

Vitali is still jabbing a lot but Byrd catches and parries them all like a prime Jack Johnson, and this time time Byrd is firing back himself and driving Vitali backwards.

What seals it is Byrd lands 2 big counters to edge the round.

29-28

 

Round 4 sees Byrd trying to up the offensive again, but Vitali is countering on the back foot and landing some very big shots.

Byrd seems to take them well, doesn't look hurt at any point, but this is a big round for Vitali who has some very good success.

 

Round 5 sees Byrd emptying my all time favourite boxing style, front foot countering.

He makes Vitali look wild and foolish at times, but he follows up every miss with counter shots that'll drive Vitali back.

It's reported in round 3 was when the injury occurred, which ties in with Vitali lowering his volume, and it also explains why he reacts so badly to missing and being made to pay.

But this is a round for Byrd on my card.
48-47

 

Round 6 looks like both are taking the round off.

There's no mention of a shoulder injury here, and actually Vitali corner are telling him to throw more combinations.

Vitali gets the better of this round and is able to land some solid shots.

He reported after the fight every right hand caused him great pain, but he is still throwing them here.

 

Round 7 sees Byrd again have success making Vitali miss and walking him down. Landed shots is quite even this round, but Byrd is the one on the front foot, Byrd is the one with the superior defence and it again looks like his fight.

Good round for Byrd

67-66

 

Round 8

Vitali is seemingly taking every other round off at this point. Byrd is unable to effectively walk him down this round as Vitali is again countering on the back foot and getting through with a lot of his own shots.

No talk from anyone about an injury so far, so I can only assume Vitali has hidden it from everyone including his own team.

But the commentary are insinuating Vitali is not looking like the next dominant heavyweight after this one.

77-75

 

Very good 9th round for Byrd who slips almost every punch from Vitali and lands big combinations in the pocket himself. He is seemingly walking through Vitali now, but that has been the pattern for alternate rounds since the 3rd so it's part of the fight narrative.

Interestingly enough for the first time tje commentary overhears talk of the injury, and Vitali complaining about the pain he's in.

Big round for Byrd

86-85

 

Vitali tells his corner the pain is too much and he's quitting. The commentary are amazed by this, they think he had victory in the bag and was in no danger of being knocked out.

Vitali being absolutely savaged for this decision to quit. Byrd was a 10 day replacement and according to the official cards Vitali just has to avoid being knocked down to win.

"he doesn't have the mentality of a champion"

"his hand hurts, so what"