Barry McGuigan is in there. After seeing him inducted, well, that broke the camel's back for me. Might as well induct Byrd.
Nope, not even close. Just look at his resume and you will see why. Aside from beating a post-prime Holyfield, Byrd has never beaten a big name in his career. He has suffered losses to virtually all A-level fighters. Chris Byrd is not a legend, but merely a footnote in boxing's history.
I would say no but then again I can't think of a heavywight since Lennox Lewis that should. Is Jimmy Young in the HOF?
He is as good as many that are in it. He just came around in the wrong era. The era of the Super Heavy is not a good era for a small HW.
C'mon, Flatlander. You could place Byrd in a time machine and plant him as far back as the 50's (Marciano's era) and Byrd still loses to TOP LEVEL heavyweights.
You have a right to your opinion. However, Byrd has been discribed as one of the most skilled and slick fighters in HW history. He could have frustrated the best of them.
Yeah, I think he should be in. More importantly though - he should NEVER fight again. I was shocked to hear about his recent loss at light heavy to an UNKNOWN. I thought he'd tear through the division after fighting at heavyweight for all those years. He's obviously shot and has taken enough beatings - there is a good chance he's already seriously damaged. Please retire Chris.
No and partly because his title reign was suspect to say the least. He should have lost the Oquendo and Golota fights, the McCline fight could have been a draw though most people won't admit it (McCline arguably won the first 5 rounds, including a KD), and let's not forget the Davarryl Williamson debacle. Go back and watch that fight and ask yourself "is this guy a HOFer?" Byrd was a tremendous fighter and had a very good career but let's not go around saying he belongs in Canastota.
Seriously are you related to Byrd, Flatlander? Anyway, I don't know of any credible boxing analysis or historian who would place Chrissy in the HOF. Not one. You know as well as I do there have been many "skilled and slick" fighters over the years in the HW division who didn't come close to getting anywhere near the HOF. Chrissy is one more example out of many skilled and slick fighters who are unlikely to be nominated to the HOF. Off Topic: People often compare Byrd with the late Jimmy Young (God rest his soul). Although I was too young to remember Jimmy Young, I have several of his fights on DVD. Honestly speaking, both fighters are eerily similar in styles, i.e., feather-fisted, defensive-minded boxers. However I can say with my own observations that pre-1980 Jimmy Young was more of a complete boxer who fought a much stellar brand of opposition than Byrd. Also, Young's punch output and hand speed was as good if not greater than Byrd's. Young defeats Byrd in a 1970's Heavyweight vacancy title fight. :yep
David Tua was a very impressive win. That said, Byrd doesn't belong in the hall. He was badly ko'd by Ibebuchi, dominated twice by Wlad and didn't have any huge wins really other than Tua. His wins over Holyfield, Vitali (sort of a luck job), and McCline were impressive, and his fight with Golota was a great scrap. Still, no way Chris belongs up there with the greats, but he did put together a great career, brought speed and skill to the division, and made millions of dollars for himself. Time for him to do something else, he'd make a great trainer or commentator.