Why did Vitaly duck a Byrd rematch?

This is because you don't understand how options work. Option does not belong to the boxer it belongs to the promoter in this case universum. It is the right to promote boxer's next fight. It is not like Byrd had much choice in the matter. Universum wanted to use the option and since Vitali was injured they made the fight with Wlad instead. Once Byrd was free from his obligations he signed with Don King and went on to better things.

 

Yes

 

You are 100% correct. Most fans don't realize that the boxers themselves have only minor control over who they fight. They take or reject what the promoters and big TV have to offer.

I'm sure that Byrd and Vitali would have loved to a rematch, assuming pay was appropriate for each fighter. But the business reality was different...the rematch just wasn't in the cards, so to speak.

 

I remember how his wife(Tracy) would scream and support him during his fights. An odd pairing but they seemed happy. I confess that I even started to feel a bit bad for her/them during and after that second fight with Wlad.

Then I quickly came back to reality and started laughing again, after recalling all the disrespectfull things Byrd said about the Klitschko's over the years.

 

You shouldn't have felt bad for the Byrds in the Vlad rematch, because Chris succeeded in negotiating an unusually big purse for that bout. He was well compensated for the fight: he deserved it, and will live comfortably for life as a result. His goal was to cash out with big bucks in a Klit rematch, and he made it happen. Few boxers get that far financially.

Also, you shouldn't take Byrd's trash talking about the Klits too seriously. Byrd is an entertainer: he knows it's his job to develop rivalries, talk tough, and getting a buzz going so people demand to see these fights.

 

Vitali knocked out cold by Lennox. Destroyed by Byrd. Nearly killed by Corrie Sanders,staggered hard by Briggs and even dropped by Adamek.

 

What do I have to refute when you haven't provided anything? I see you have delusions of grandeur, pityful :yep

When are you going to back up your talk with facts? I'm still waiting, bro. Oh yeah, I forgot, you can only talk, my bad :rofl

 

Fixed :good

Makes more sense now.

 

I think Vitali had to take a break with that shoulder-injury so Universum decided it made more sense to make a wlad-byrd match.
And after that fight, well...it didnt make any sense any more to book a rematch, DUCY?
It was not like Byrd was competitive in any fight with the klits anyway.

 

Yes this. If the Klits say it was because Don King wanting options on them, which King was notorious for, and Don King says it wasn't...you have to give the Klits the benefit... The other fighter they supposedly ducked was Valuev, another DKP fighter and he had his hands all over that fight not happening.

 

But it was an easy tune-up fight against Hoffman. That's much different from fighting Byrd, a fight for which Vitali would need to be 100%.

From what I recall, Vitali looked sluggish against Hoffman (by Vitali's standards, at least). The injury, operation, healing period, and layoff really took it's toll on him.

 

Again, business decisions made this fight unworkable. Valuev was a big cash cow for Sauerland and DKP. There was no way they would have been willing to throw him to the wolves (by fighting Klits) unless they received a massive purse as compensation.

Vitali-Valuev negotiations were started, but ultimately failed because DKP-Sauerland demanded an unusually high purse. They wanted to be compensated for loss of future revenue suffered after Valuev lost, and his marketability was ruined. I think DKP-Sauerland were being reasonable in shying away from a Klit fight.

It's fairly well known in boxing that Valuev would have been no match for the Klits.

 

It also seems like they offter to fight guys before those guys are ready. Think about how early Wlad wanted Povetkin! Now Povetkin is better and he has no fight with Wlad.

 

Silly thread. Vitlai called out Byrd, but Byrd and Don King did not offer the re-match