ATLANTIC CITY – Heavyweight boxing needs more people like Chris Byrd. It just doesn’t need more heavyweights like Byrd.
Byrd is a smart, articulate man who seems genuine in his Christian beliefs. His father is his trainer. His mother works his corner. His wife is his manager. His nephew wears a jersey that reads, ‘Chris Byrd is my uncle.’ His son sits on his lap during press conferences.
What’s not to like?
His style.
Byrd twists and turns, bends and moves. The 32-year-old lefty throws jabs, jabs, jabs and the occasional pedestrian counterpunch. When asked if he could turn a heavyweight fight with one punch, Byrd said, “I’m 214 pounds. If I hit you right, you’re going.”
Can you hear the great heavyweights of the past snicker? And here’s the real gut-buster:
By capturing the vacant IBF belt Saturday night with a unanimous decision over Evander Holyfield in the Convention Center, Byrd joins John Ruiz (WBA), Wladimir Klitschko (WBO) and Lennox Lewis (WBC) as a heavyweight champ.
Lewis relinquished the belt to Don King for $1 million and a Range Rover. That’s how cheap it’s become to buy a belt. Lewis didn’t even insist on a Defender 90.
Don’t be mistaken, Byrd finally got his opportunity and he made the most of it. Eugene Grant and Steve Weisfeld scored it 117-111 for Byrd. John Stewart had it 116-112.
King said the fight contained, “some of the most memorable exchanges you’ll see in boxing history.” Forget the hair; check the glasses.
Byrd (36-2) now has his signature win but he’s still saddled with a style that is better suited for lower weight classes. As the hair-raising King said of Byrd’s style, “A peck here, a peck there, three pecks. He has pecked himself into a heavyweight champion of the world.”
Holyfield, who said he injured his left shoulder in the first round and could only throw it to the body, was so frustrated by Byrd’s style that at one point the Real Deal tried to fight as a southpaw. Holyfield, 40, now is 38-6-2.
“I tried to make it a toe to toe fight, but it didn’t happen,” said Holyfield. “I will be back.”
So will Byrd, who hopes to fight the winner of a Ruiz-Roy Jones Jr. match. Byrd was asked how he thought the public perception of him would change with his win over Holyfield.
“Hopefully they’ll see that this guy just don’t run around the ring,” said Byrd. “He’ll fight you at times.”
Enough said.
