CHRIS BYRD
updated February 20, 2007
Chris Byrd was the youngest of eight children growing up in Flint, Mich. He began boxing at age 5, training in his father's boxing academy. He is still trained by his father Joe Byrd Sr. and father and son still train at the Joe Byrd Boxing Academy.
Chris turned professional on Jan 28, 1993, and established his punching power by knocking out ten of his first 13 opponents.
Byrd began competing in the ring at age 10, and compiled a staggering 275 wins in the amateur ranks. He was a three-time U.S. champion: 1989, 1991 and 1992. He was part of a 1991 U.S. team that became the first and only U.S. team to score a tie against the heralded Cuban national team.
His amateur career peaked with Byrd winning a silver medal in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, competing in the middleweight division at 165 pounds.
He turned professional on Jan 28, 1993, and established his punching power by knocking out ten of his first 13 opponents. Byrd remained undefeated for 26 fights, knocking off notable opponents like Uriah Grant, Bert Cooper, Frankie Swindell, Jimmy Thunder and Ross Puritty.
Full of confidence, Byrd entered his fight with Ike Ibeabuchi on March 20, 1999, with a secret. He had separated his ribs while sparring with his oldest brother, Joe Jr., but he hid the fact from everyone-even his father.
Chris Byrd in action
He paid the price in the ring while facing the legendarily tough Ibeabuchi. Byrd was caught by a left hand while on the ropes in the fifth round and appeared as though he would survive the round when the referee stopped the match with just one second left.
Byrd kept fighting and winning until he received a phone call that all boxers dream of. If he could make it to Berlin, Germany, in seven days, he could be a last-minute replacement and vie for the World Boxing Organization heavyweight title against undefeated knockout artist Vitali Klitschko.
Byrd took the challenge. In the fifth round, Byrd began to back up the 6' 9" giant, much to the Russian's dismay. He continued to press the action, landing the preponderance of power punches. Klitschko ended the ninth round and went to his corner complaining of shoulder pain. He and his corner decided he was unable to continue, and Chris Byrd walked away with a win and the fulfillment of a dream: a world heavyweight title.
In a unique circumstance, Byrd's next opponent, six months later, was Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali's highly regarded younger brother. Bryd would again need to travel to Germany, this time Cologne, to make his first title defense on Oct. 14, 2000.
Byrd suffered a tear in the cornea of his left eye in the second round, which hampered his trademark elusive style and made him an easier target for the Russian. He managed to last 12 rounds in a fight where he had to take more punishment than ever before but lost a unanimous decision.
Undaunted, Byrd desires nothing more than to have another shot at a title. The first step would be to defeat Maurice Harris in an International Boxing Federation elimination bout on May 12 at Madison Square Garden. The winner of this match will face David Tua within 90 days to determine who will be next in line to fight for the IBF title.
Byrd's favorite movie is Gladiator. He loves hot wings and pizza. He's a big fan of traditional Christian music.
He then went on to give the hard-hitting contender David Tua a boxing lesson on August 18, 2001 in an IBF Heavyweight Elimination bout which cemented him in the No.1 position.
Byrd's favorite movie is Gladiator. He loves hot wings and pizza. He's a big fan of traditional Christian music. He loves to spend time with his seven athletic brothers and sisters.
On Sunday mornings, Byrd enjoys getting on the church bus to drive to poorer neighborhoods in Flint to pick up children and take them to church.
Byrd manages his own career with the help of his wife, Tracy. They have three children: Jordon, 9, Justin, 7, and Sydney, 3. He is promoted by Don King in association with Bill Kozerski's Fight Night.
His day to fight for the IBF Heavyweight Championship had finally come. With Lennox Lewis opting not to fight his mandatory defense against Byrd and vacating his title, Chris then fought the next available contender, who was the four-time former World Heavyweight Champion Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield.
On December 14, 2001, Chris Byrd won an impressive 12-round decision over the rugged Holyfield in Atlantic City, N.J., to become the IBF World Heavyweight Champion.
On September 20, 2003, Byrd made his first title defense against the top available contender, Puerto Rico's "Fast" Fres Oquendo who won an elimination bout to get the spot. Chris Byrd won a 12-round decision to keep the title.
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