Chris Byrd - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Chris Cornelius Byrd is a retired and former professional boxer. He is the former WBO

World Boxing Organization

The World Boxing Organization is a sanctioning organization currently recognizing professional boxing world champions. The organization is recognized as one of the four major world championship groups by the IBHOF alongside the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Council and the...

and IBF

International Boxing Federation

The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...

heavyweight champion. His nickname is "Rapid Fire".

Early life

Chris Byrd was the youngest of eight children growing up in Flint, Michigan

Flint, Michigan

Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...

. He began boxing at age 5, training in his father (Joe Sr.)'s Joe Byrd Boxing Academy. His father continued to train and manage Byrd as a professional. Byrd attended Flint Northwestern High School.

Amateur career

Byrd began competing in the ring at age 10, and compiled an impressive 275 wins in the amateur ranks. He was a three-time U.S. amateur champion (1989, 1991, and 1992). He was on the 1991 U.S. National boxing Team that became the first (and only) U.S. team to score a tie against the heralded Cuban team.
Byrd won the silver medal in the 1992 Barcelona

Barcelona

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...

summer Olympics

Olympic Games

The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...

as a middleweight

Middleweight

Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...

, losing to Cuba

Cuba

The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...

's Ariel Hernández in the final.

Amateur Hightlights

Lost in the 1988 Olympic Trials at Light Welterweight, losing to eventual United States representative Todd Foster
Todd Foster
Todd Foster is an American boxer in the Junior middleweight division.-Amateur career:Foster was an amateur boxing standout...

.
1989 United States Amateur Light Middleweight Champion
1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle, lost to Torsten Schmitz
Torsten Schmitz
Torsten Schmitz is a retired German boxer in the Light Middleweight division. He represented Germany at the 1988 Summer Olympics.-Amateur career:...

(East Germany) on points, in Light Middleweight competition.
1991 United States Amateur Middleweight Champion
1991 World Championships, lost at Middlweight to Ramon Garbey
Ramón Garbey
Ramón Garbey is a heavyweight boxer from Cuba, who won the world title as an amateur in light heavyweight division at the 1993 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Tampere, Finland. In the final he defeated Nigeria's Jacklord Jacobs...

(Cuba)
1992 United States Amateur Middleweight Champion
1992 Middleweight Gold Medalist at Canada Cup. Results were:
- Justin Crawford (Australia) won on points
- Joe Laryea (Ghana) won on points
- Igor Anashkin (Russia) won on points
1992 Qualified as a Middleweight at the Olympic Trials in Worcester, MA. Results were:
- Derrick James won on points
- William Joppy
  William Joppy
  William Torelle Joppy is an American middleweight boxer. Joppy held the WBA middleweight title on two occasions. He first became the WBA champion in June 1996 by stopping defender Shinji Takehara in Japan with a flurry of punches in the ninth round. He then would make a couple defenses of his crown...
  
  won on points
- Mike DeMoss won on points
- Mike DeMoss won on points, this bout was at the Olympic Box-Offs in Phoenix, AZ.
Captured the Middleweight Silver Medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. Results were:
- Mark Edwards (Great Britain) 21-3
- Alexander Lebziak (Russia/Unified Team) 16-7
- Ahmed Dine (Algeria) 21-2
- Chris Johnson
  Chris Johnson (boxer)
  Chris Omar Johnson is a Jamaican-born boxer, who won a middleweight bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics for Canada...
  
  (Canada) 17-3
- Ariel Hernandez (Cuba) 7-12

Professional career

Byrd turned professional on January 28, 1993, knocking out 10 of his first 13 opponents. Byrd moved up to heavyweight

Heavyweight

Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...

three fights into his professional career.

Byrd remained undefeated for his first 26 fights, knocking off then-notable opponents like Phil Jackson

Phil Jackson (boxer)

Phil Jackson, born May 11, 1964 in Miami Beach, FL, was a professional heavyweight boxer, best known for challenging Lennox Lewis for the WBC Heavyweight Title in 1994.-Pro career:...

, Lionel Butler, Uriah Grant

Uriah Grant

Uriah Grant was a professional boxer. Nicknamed "Bossman", Grant was not a force in his weight classes, but was a notable contender who briefly captured the IBF Cruiserweight Title.-Pro career:...

, Bert Cooper

Bert Cooper

Bertram Cooper , also known as Smokin' Bert Cooper is a heavyweight boxer, most famous for his devastating punching power and several wild brawls in the 1990s.-Pro career:...

, Craig Peterson, Frankie Swindell, Jimmy Thunder

Jimmy Thunder

Jimmy Thunder , is a former Samoan boxer.- Early life :During his early life and amateur career, Thunder was known as Jimmy Peau. His mother Papaliitele Milagi Leaupepe is from the village of Fasitoouta, and his father Lupematasila Maalo Faasavalu Peau is from the village of Falelatai...

, undefeated Eliecer Castillo

Eliecer Castillo

Elieser Ramos Castillo , is a Cuban professional boxer in the heavyweight division.-Amateur career:Elieser Castillo Ramos was part of the legendary Cuban boxing program before he defected to the United States....

and Ross Puritty

Ross Puritty

Ross Puritty is a retired heavyweight professional boxer. A high-level journeyman and occasional heavyweight contender, Puritty is best remembered for his shocking upset of Wladimir Klitschko in 1998 that won him the WBC international Heavyweight title.- Professional Boxing career :Purrity made...

.

However in 1999, Byrd's undefeated record came to a dead end when he fought undefeated Ike Ibeabuchi

Ike Ibeabuchi

Ikemefula "Ike" Charles Ibeabuchi is a former professional heavyweight boxer who defeated highly ranked contender David Tua and future heavyweight titlist Chris Byrd...

. With 48 seconds left in the fifth round, a left-handed bolo punch

Bolo punch

A bolo punch is a punch used in Martial arts. The bolo punch is among the traditional boxing punches . Used many times and can cause powerful knockouts....

followed with a right hook sent Byrd to the canvas, face first.

During the last week of March 2000, Byrd was offered the chance to be the replacement (for Donovan Ruddock

Donovan Ruddock

Donovan Ruddock , also known as Razor Ruddock, is a retired Canadian heavyweight boxer. He was a promising Heavyweight of the late 1980s and early 1990s...

) against undefeated champion Vitali Klitschko

Vitali Klitschko

Vitaliy Volodymyrovych Klychko is a Ukrainian professional heavyweight boxer and the current WBC heavyweight champion. He is a leader of the political party Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform and a member of the Ukrainian delegation to the Congress of the Council of Europe. He previously...

in Berlin

Berlin

Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...

, Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

(Klitschko's adopted home country) for the WBO

World Boxing Organization

Heavyweight Title. He therefore had only seven days to prepare for the fight (not the customary 6–12 weeks). Byrd struggled greatly in the fight, trailing after nine rounds by scores of 88–83 (on two cards) and 89–82 (on one card), i.e. losing seven or eight of those rounds. However, Klitschko severely injured his shoulder and was unable to continue after the ninth round. The injury that Klitschko suffered was a torn shoulder rotator cuff, which required major surgery and a 7 month lay-off. Despite trailing on all three of the judges' scorecards, Byrd walked away the winner.

Six months later, Byrd was back in Germany to defend the title against Wladimir Klitschko

Wladimir Klitschko

Wladimir Klitschko is a Ukrainian heavyweight boxer. Klitschko is the WBA , IBF, WBO Super, IBO & Ring Magazine Champion. His older brother Vitali Klitschko is the current WBC champion...

, Vitali's younger, more agile brother. Twelve rounds later, Byrd had lost a lopsided unanimous decision and the WBO belt after being knocked down twice.

Byrd returned to the U.S., signed with Don King and beat Maurice Harris

Maurice Harris

Wilbur Maurice Harris , nicknamed "Sugar Moe", is the former United States Boxing Association heavyweight champion.-Pro career:...

to win the United States Boxing Association heavyweight belt in Madison Square Garden. He was now a top-five contender for the IBF title. After winning his next match (a title defense against New Zealand's top contender David Tua

David Tua

David "Tuamanator" Tua is a New Zealand professional heavyweight boxer, fighting out of South Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.He is a former WBO Asia Pacific and WBO Oriental Heavyweight champion....

) Byrd eventually received his mandatory shot at the vacant IBF world Heavyweight Championship against shopworn legend Evander Holyfield

Evander Holyfield

Evander Holyfield is a professional boxer from the United States. He is a former undisputed world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, earning him the nickname "The Real Deal"...

in Atlantic City. On December 14, 2002, Byrd won a lopsided unanimous decision and the IBF title.

Byrd has successfully defended the IBF belt against: Fres Oquendo

Fres Oquendo

Fres Oquendo was born April 1, 1973 in Puerto Rico, and is a professional heavyweight boxer.He had a successful amateur background.-Amateur career:He had an amateur record of 105-51990 178 lb. Springfield Golden Gloves Champion1992 178 lb...

in 2003 (match ended in a controversial win for Byrd in which most people felt Oquendo won) , a highly entertaining draw with "Andrew" Golota and a decision win over friend Jameel McCline

Jameel McCline

Jameel “Big Time” McCline is a professional heavyweight boxer notable for his speed, strength, and size at 6'6" and 269 lbs. Currently ranked at number 9 in the WBCworld heavyweight ratings...

in 2004, and DaVarryl Williamson

DaVarryl Williamson

DaVarryl Williamson is an American boxer originally from Washington, D.C., but later a resident of Aurora, Colorado. His ring nickname is "Touch of Sleep". He has a current professional record of 26-6, 22KO...

in 2005.

On April 22, 2006, Byrd lost to Wladimir Klitschko

Wladimir Klitschko

Wladimir Klitschko is a Ukrainian heavyweight boxer. Klitschko is the WBA , IBF, WBO Super, IBO & Ring Magazine Champion. His older brother Vitali Klitschko is the current WBC champion...

in a fight for the IBF and IBO

International Boxing Organization

The International Boxing Organization is a for-profit organization that sanctions professional boxing matches and awards world and subordinate championships.- Origins :...

title. The fight took place at SAP Arena

SAP Arena

SAP Arena is a multi-purpose arena in Mannheim, Germany. It is primarily used for ice hockey and handball, and is the home arena of the Adler Mannheim ice hockey club and the "Rhein-Neckar-Löwen" handball club. Inaugurated in 2005, the arena has a capacity of up to 15,000 people.More than a...

in Mannheim

Mannheim

Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....

, Germany

Germany

. Byrd was heavily dominated throughout the fight, was down in the fifth, and again in the seventh. Referee Wayne Kelly stopped the fight after the second knockdown when Byrd had an open cut near his eyes. Klitschko won in a TKO

After losing to Alexander Povetkin

Alexander Povetkin

Alexander Vladimirovich Povetkin is a Russian boxer. He is the current holder of the WBA heavyweight title. His height is . Because of his amateur success, as well as his early pro accomplishments, he is seen as a leading contender in professional boxing's Heavyweight division...

, Byrd would drop about 40 pounds to return to the light heavyweight division. He fought Shaun George

Shaun George

Shaun George is a US American professional boxer fighting in the light-heavyweight division. He is best known for sensationally upsetting former heavyweight champ Chris Byrd which all but ended Byrd's career. George is the nephew of former world title challenger and trainer Lennox Blackmoore...

on May 16, 2008, at the Thomas & Mack Center

Thomas & Mack Center

The Thomas & Mack Center is an arena, located on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. For ring events, the capacity is 19,522, for basketball, the capacity is 18,776.-History:...

in Las Vegas. Byrd was dropped by George in round one and rocked again in round two. It was a sign of things to come as George hammered Byrd with his right hand at will, finally flooring Byrd twice in the ninth round. Byrd beat the count after the first knockdown, but was then battered down again and the bout was waved off by the referee.

Retirement

Chris Byrd has officially announced that he will not be fighting anymore and therefore he confirmed his retirement.

Additional information

His hometown is Flint, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...

where he trains along with his brother Patrick Byrd, and his sister Tracy Byrd
Tracy Byrd (boxer)
-Background:Byrd comes from a boxing family: her father, Joe Byrd, is a former boxer who currently trains her.Her brother Antoine once lost to Roy Jones Jr. in a bid to win the world's Middleweight title, and her other brother, Chris, is a former heavyweight title holder.Tracy Byrd enjoyed...

. Byrd is also a first cousin of Lamon Brewster
Lamon Brewster
"Relentless" Lamon Tajuan Brewster is a retired American professional heavyweight boxer, and former WBO heavyweight champion. He won the silver medal as an amateur at the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar del Plata....

.
Byrd's corner
Cornerman
A cornerman, or simply corner, is a combat sports term for a coach or team mate assisting a fighter during the length of a bout. The cornerman remains outside the combat area during the fight, but in proximity, and can assist the fighter through instruction...

consists entirely of family members.
Byrd makes an appearance in the 2008 documentary, Beyond the Ropes.

Professional boxing record

Matthias Sandow
|TKO
|4
|21/03/2009
|align=left|

Hanns-Martin-Schleyer Halle

Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle

Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle is an indoor sporting arena located in Stuttgart, Germany. The capacity of the arena is 15,500 people. The hall was built in 1983 and is named for Hanns Martin Schleyer, a German employer representative, and former SS Officer and Nazi activist, who was kidnapped and...

, Stuttgart

Stuttgart

Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....

, Baden-Württemberg

Baden-Württemberg

Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...

, Germany

Germany

Shaun George

|TKO
|9
|16/05/2008
|align=left|

Thomas & Mack Center

, Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...

, Nevada

Nevada

Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...

Early life

Amateur career

Amateur Hightlights

Professional career

Retirement

Additional information

Professional boxing record

External links