COMPUBOX ANALYSIS: BYRD-KLITSCHKO 2

April 17, 2006 - by Bob Canobbio/Compubox

Byrd, 39-2-1, 20 ko's, making the fifth defense of his version of the heavyweight title, nearly a 3-1 'dog vs. the resurgent Wladdy, 45-3, 40 ko's, who dropped Byrd twice enroute to a unanimous decision win on October 14, 2000.

Six months after Wladimir's older brother (and former politician?) Vitali, ahead 88-83 2x and 89-82 thru nine rounds, quit on his stool vs. Byrd, Chris returned to Germany to defend his share of the heavyweight title vs. the then 34-1 younger (and fresher) Klitschko. It was all Wladimir, who landed effective (and efficient) power shots that completely closed Byrd's right eye and nearly closed the other. Wladimir landed better than 50% of his power shots (14 of 26 per round) and showed Byrd enough of his jab (33 thrown per round) to soundly win by scores of 120-106, 118-108 and 119-107. Byrd fought to the finish despite getting dropped in rounds nine and eleven. Dealing with eye issues and Klitschko's heavy hands, Byrd managed just 33 total punches thrown per round, landing 31%.

Byrd, an 8-1 'dog as a last minute replacement for Razor Ruddock vs. Vitali, landed 19 of 29 power shots in the ninth and final round of that fight.

Ten months later, Byrd boxed circles around the one-dimensional David Tua, averaging 37 jabs per round among his 58 total punches per round (the heavyweight average is 46 total punches thrown per round). Tua landed less than one-quarter of his punches and never hurt Byrd.

In December of 2002, Byrd danced all night and won a vacant title vs. the 40-yr. old Evander Holyfield, who managed 29 total punches thrown per round.. Byrd averaged 62 punches thrown per round, 44 of them jabs, landing 44% of his non-jabs.

Byrd's been scrambling since Holyfield, winning a controversial decision over Fres Oquendo on 9/20/03. He was out landed 156-132 in total punches by Fres. Seven months later, in an attempt to be more of a crowd-pleasing fighter, Byrd stayed in the pocket and it nearly cost him his title vs. bad boy Andrew Golota. On his best behavior, Golota out landed (244-241) and out threw Byrd (Golota averaged 64 punches per round, Byrd 47). Golota also had a 208-150 edge in power connects. The judges saw it 115-113 G; 115-113 B & 114-114.) Golota's 244 total connects are the most punches landed vs. Byrd in 13 of his fights tracked by CompuBox.

In November of '04 Byrd defended vs. good friend (isn't everyone Byrd's friend), the 6'6", 270-lb Jameel McCline. 'Big Time' started fast, dropping Byrd for a flash in round two. Then fatigue set in on McCline, who was out landed 165-84 over the last six rounds by Byrd, including 60-25 in rounds eleven and twelve, enough for Byrd to scratch out a 115-112 & 114-113 (114-112 M) split decision win.

Byrd's only other loss was in March of '99 vs. to Ike Ibeabuchi, who caught Byrd nesting on the ropes in round five and grounded him. No shame here, as Ibeabuchi, who featured a wicked two-fisted attack, would have seriously challenged for the heavyweight title.

Wladimir's won three straight fights since his fatigue-induced ko loss to Lamon Brewster 24-months ago. Last September, under the guidance of Hall of Fame trainer Manny Stewart, Wladimir jabbed and held his way to a unanimous decision (114-111 3x) win over the then highly-touted Sam Peter. Wladimir was down twice in the fifth and again in the tenth, but still managed to average 32 jabs per round among his 44 total punches per round. He landed 52% of his power shots vs. the one-dimensional, homerun happy Peter, who landed just 23% of his 37 punches per round and just 26 of 187 (14%) jabs.

Eleven months earlier, he was dropped in round four by Davarryl Williamson before a clash of heads in the fifth left Wladdy unable to continue. They went to the scorecards with Klitschko ahead 49-46 twice and Williamson ahead 48-47 on the third card. Williamson was ko'd in 1:46 by Joe Mesi in September of '03.

An 8-1 favorite, Wladimir out landed Brewster 109-28 over the first four rounds, dropping Lamon in the fourth. After averaging 78 punches thrown in the rounds one and two, he hit the wall in the fifth. Brewster landed 12 of 27 power shots in round five after landing just 20 in the previous four frames.

In March of '03, scratch golfer and part time fighter Corrie Sanders landed one of his patented left hands that dropped Wladimir two minutes into round one. He was down again before the round ended. The fight was over :30 into round two.

Wladimir had a banner 2002. He ko'd Frans Botha in eight, Ray Mercer in six and Jameel McCline in ten He outlanded the M&M boys (certainly not Mantle & Maris) 376-115, landing 56% of his power shots. McCline averaged just 31 punches per round, while Wladimir landed more punches (193) than Mercer threw (124.)

Byrd, dogged the last few years by promotional issues with Don King, is a free man. He says he's going right after Wladimir. He's no fool, what are his chances of getting a decision over Wladimir in Germany? "It's going to be like a little mouse chasing around a big elephant," said Byrd, who arrived in Germany April 13.

At 35, Byrd certainly can't move around the ring like he once did and Wladimir, 30, is not the offensive fighter (and glass still remains in his chin) he was when they first met 5 1/2 years ago. "I want to be a giant killer. I want Nicolay Valuev next." He first needs to get by Vitali's not-so-little brother and the feeling is he'll pull the upset. Byrd, behind on all cards (what a surprise), by late round stoppage.