Boxing Quotes: Chris Byrd – Wladimir Klitschko

Chris Byrd (39-2-1, 20 KOs) defends his IBF heavyweight title against IBF No. 1 contender and former WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (45-3, 40 KOs) on Saturday, April 22, at the new SAP Arena in Mannheim, Germany, on HBO. The scheduled 12-round bout is promoted by K2 Promotions and will be carried live on HBO at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT. It will be replayed later that night on HBO at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Opening Comments.

This fight is something really different than other fights because it is for the championship of the world. Right now, I am looking forward to it. I have done a lot of things to get the chance to become the No. 1 challenger. I would like to also say something about Chris Byrd. He is the longest reigning heavyweight champion and one of the most experienced boxers. So I am excited and hopefully everybody is also planning to watch the fight on April 22. I am very excited about the fight. Wladimir is more than worthy. He is the No. 1 contender and has been doing well. So it is a great challenge for me because it is a rematch, something I want to avenge big time. I feel he is the best guy in the division right now outside of myself. So it is a very intriguing fight and will have a lot of drama leading up to it because of the last fight. I just hope we put on a great show. I am very confident in my ability and am ready for the fight. I want to show the world that I am the best in the division. So look for a great fight come April 22.

Begin Press Questions.

Chris, what are your thoughts on the rematch with Wladimir and being in Germany?

The fans here are great. Just having the open workout today and seeing all the people there basically supporting the fight; it motivates me. It does not matter where we fight. It is a great opportunity to fight Wladimir again. He is one of the top guys. This is the first rematch in my professional career. Since I have been champion the past couple of years, I have always wanted to fight the top guys and really have not been allowed to because of certain circumstances. So now it has opened up and this is really starting off a tournament format. You win and you move on and fight hopefully the next best guy out there to eliminate so that we all know who the No. 1 fighter out there is. So I am very excited about this fight that is coming up.

Wladimir, is there more or less pressure fighting in what basically is your hometown?

It does not matter where the ring is. The ring has four corners and a referee and an opponent. Of course, the last championship of the world in Germany was three years ago and it is very good to have such a great audience who bought out the tickets. It just shows that the nation is really excited about the sport in general. I am looking forward it. We only have only a couple of days to the fight and that is a great thing.

Chris, what makes you think this fight will be different than the first one when you lost?

I think I am more confident in my ability to fight bigger, taller guys. I am defending the belt. To prove that you are the best, you have to fight the best. So I do not care if Wladimir beat me five years ago and we fought the next day after he beat me. I would still feel I am going to win. I just want to prove that I am the best guy out there. I am going to beat him.

Chris, what made you be willing to accept this fight over in Germany?

To be a world champion, you fight wherever. I feel like I get more credibility coming over to Germany to fight and win than anywhere else. I am ready to fight and prove that I really belong in this division. I may be a small guy, but I want to be huge in the division as far as being the man. I talked to my wife, my father, I prayed about it and the Lord just said, “Hey, go and fight. Regardless of what goes on, you fight.’ So I am here and ready to do it.

Do you think you are going to get a fair shake?

I hope this sport is fair enough that we both get a fair shake. I do not even concern myself with that. Everybody will see that if I get beat, and I get beat soundly, I will take it like a man. But if I win, and win soundly, hopefully I will get the decision and everybody will see it. So I do not concern myself with all of that. All I concern myself with is with Wladimir Klitschko in that ring on April 22.

Wladimir, what did you learn in your fight with Samuel Peter, a fight where you faced a lot of adversity?

That dead men can keep walking and walking and walking. When I was a world champion and defending my title, I got a feeling that a lot of my opponents had a lot of respect for me and wanted to fight against me. But after I lost my title, the respect was lost. So to get the respect back, you have to go all the way. There are many question marks – no team, no stamina, no bulk, dead man, broken man, whatever. I do my job and I know that I belong (in the upper echelon of the division). So let me fight the fight. I think only action in the ring can show how good or how bad I am.

Do you expect to see a different fighter in Byrd this time than you saw the first time?

I think Chris Byrd is a much wiser man and a lot more experienced. You cannot buy experience; you have to get it through the years. That is what he did and I think Chris Byrd is much better than five years ago when we fought in the last fight.

Does the fact that your brother not fighting anymore affected your thoughts about how long you are going to stay in the sport?

We were talking about it a couple of years ago. Even then it was obvious that one of us would continue to fight after one had to retire. It was obvious also that the younger one would stay longer. Even though my brother (Vitali) is retired, I still have my goal to become a champion.
Chris, when your cousin, Lamon (Brewster) lost, it made you and Hasim Rahman as the only American heavyweight champions. What does that mean to you being an American heavyweight champion?

It is a great thing being champion — period. But I really do not concern myself with it. It is about who is the best. I do not care where you come from. If you can fight, you can fight. It is just like any other sport. For a long time, Americans dominated in the heavyweight division, but everybody is getting better. We have to step our game up. But at the end of the day, if you can fight, if you have the better skills, regardless of where you come from, you are going to win. Yes, I am representing America with being champion but at the same time, I am a world champion. So I just want to stay on top of my game and keep winning.

Chris, you said that at some point you were five years wiser and that Wladimir was just five years older. In those five years, what do you think has transpired in terms of your hunger and your skills, and what has happened in those five years with Wladimir that you think will make this result different from five years ago?

Well, I can only speak for myself. Five years ago, I was more of a finesse fighter. I was willing to fight anybody but, at the same time, I was timid of the bigger guys — you know, trying to be just more of a boxer than to just throw punches. I will fight you and I will be wiser in doing it. I just do not want to take punches for no reason, but at the same time I need to box from the outside. I can box and make him miss. But if I want to get in the trenches and fight. I can do that also, but I am a lot wiser doing it than just being knuckleheaded and going in there and banging for no reason when I am not a major power puncher like that. But I can do it in a smarter way. So I do not fear anybody anymore as far as taking their shot. So that is why I think I am wiser in the game. I have studied boxing a lot more and I study a lot of these guys’ styles and just try to break them down as much as possible with the talent I have. I try to be the smartest guy in the ring every time I fight. So at my age of 35, I have gained a lot of experience and I consider myself a lot wiser.

Wladimir, (Sergei) Liakhovich and (Nicolay) Valuev have won world titles and now you are fighting a guy you have beaten once. Does that add any motivation or make a difference with you?

Actually, it is a political question. The audience loves contention. It does not matter the nationality. If you perform well, everybody will accept you. If you are not good enough, you are out. That is as simple as it is.

Wladimir, why are you going to win again?

Failure is not an option to me, so just let me become a champion. Right now, this is going to be my 49th fight, so I have gained some experience. I think my best damage is coming.

This will obviously be a pro-Wladimir crowd. Chris, how do you expect to deal with it? Wladimir, how do you expect the crowd to help you?

In Germany, people love sports in general. I remember when I fought a German opponent here and when I walked into the ring, everybody was booing me. But after the third round, everybody was cheering me. After I won, the audience accepted me. Nationality does not matter in sports. If you perform well, the audience will accept you no matter where it is.

That is very true. It is a matter of performance. I know when I fought Vitali, they did not accept me when I got in the ring, but after four or five rounds, they saw this little guy in there fighting hard and putting up a pretty good fight, and they were cheering for both of us. If it was all one-sided, it still would not concern me. I block that out anyway. I just want to get in the ring and fight. It really does not matter to me.

Chris, do your physical skills force you to fight differently?

No, I really think I could fight the same way. I know I will maybe be a little bit slower if I did fight the same way, but that style gets a lot of big talented guys like Lamon and Klitschko. It just does not work. It just makes the fight too close. So I have to change up some things to really get the respect of the bigger guys when I am fighting them. So I try to employ a different style, a little bit different, but at the same time, I will still move my head trying not to be hit as much and to make it a fight. I cannot just sit back and let a 6-foot-7 guy who weighs 245-250 pounds outbox me or pound me from a distance. I come to fight and do it in an intelligent way.

Chris, how does Wladimir compare with Evander (Holyfield) or Vitali (Klitschko) in terms of raw punching power?

Oh, he has great punching power. I always consider when I moved up from middleweight to heavyweight, everybody has punching power and I am just now getting used to it and getting more fire in me to take it and just try to roll with it. But he can punch. He is a big guy. If he gets hit right, he is going to sleep. And I have prepared myself very well in the gym this time as far as taking punches. I can tell you one guy I have sparred with who hit harder than everybody I have fought in the ring so far. Every time I sparred with him, I felt like I was in a car accident. I think that got me mentally prepared to take anything. That makes me hungry to fight. That is why I said in the press conference that I could not wait to get hit (with) something solid so I could really take it and keep rolling with it. It gives me confidence when I can take a punch and keep fighting. But at the same time, if you get hit with the right punch, I do not care who you are, you are going to sleep. So I still try to be cautious in what I am doing in the ring because I am a smart guy. But at the same time, I fear no man’s punching power. We are going to have a great fight come Saturday night.

Chris, would you rate Wladimir’s jab as a power punch?

Yes, he has a great jab. He has a great arsenal of punches. And not only his jab, but everything else that comes with it. He is a great offensive fighter. But the jab sets everything up and we are fully prepared for that. My father is very smart in trying to counteract off everything my opponent does. If I can execute it like I should and like I have been doing it in the gym, it should not be a problem getting past it. But we will see when we get in the ring and we start fighting.

Chris, you had a little bit of difficulty taking Klitschko’s punches in the first fight in the later rounds. Was that more fatigue or do you think it is just a more of an accumulation of punches? How do you see things being different this time?

My goal this time is not to take all those punches like I did the first time. I have tried to correct a lot of things from the first time and do things differently to not have those things happen in this fight.

Chris, do you feel that Klitschko will have an advantage if he keeps the fight on the outside? Do you feel that your best chances are to get inside of his jabs? Do you have any plan to deal with if Klitschko wraps you up in his arms like he did Sam Peter?

I have been working on so many different things with my sparring partners trying to work on all of these different movements and different styles. Hopefully, the referee will do his job. Hopefully, we just fight and give a good performance to the crowd. You will see as the fight goes on the different changes both of us make if we are not doing things like we should. So I cannot really tell until we start boxing and see what happens. But I am ready for almost anything that comes and ready to adjust and do things right to win this time.

Wladimir, how comfortable are you fighting inside where your height and leverage give you pretty distinct advantages?

Everybody uses their own advantages.

Wladimir, how is having Emanuel Steward as your trainer impacted the way you train and fight?

I have a great opportunity to work with great people and trainers, like Freddie Roach, where I actually learned how to fight slow (pace myself) with him. I have enjoyed working with Emanuel very much and he is a great coach. The man knows about strategies, technology, techniques, etc. I enjoy the work and it takes a lot of time to really understand each other, but right now we are already three years together, so we have become closer and closer and I understand exactly what he thinks and he understands what I mean.

Wladimir, would you say that you are closer to Manny than you have been to any other trainer you have had?

I am saying that after three years we are getting closer and closer and understanding each other better.

Wladimir, how many rounds of sparring did you do in preparation for this fight?

I went approximately around 150 rounds.

Chris, you have had several very close fights recently. Do you expect this fight to be another real close fight? Also, do you think the close fights have taken something out of you and caused you to adjust your style? Have the close fights helped or hurt you?

I think they have helped me. It makes you realize everybody is coming to take your title. You have to be on top of your game and fight. I cannot take these guys for granted. Everybody is coming to win the heavyweight championship of the world. So I train harder and I try to give it my best each time out. I feel this is going to be a close fight. It should be a really good fight.

Chris, are you planning to come out fast or are you planning to weather Wladimir’s early storm if he comes out fast?

I have been boxing a long time. Sometimes I come out fast and sometimes I just come out. I do not have a strategy in that area. I am in great shape. I can come out fast and stay fast for 12 rounds. I just look forward to boxing. I love it. I cannot wait until the bell rings and we both get it on. It is going to be a great event.

Chris, do you feel you still are strong mentally, physically, and still focused?

I have to be. I am always trying to prove something to somebody. I am proving stuff to myself everyday and training and doing certain things. I am trying to prove to people that I really belong in this division. I have been champion since December 2002 and still do not get any respect and I am willing to face any opponent any time, and I am 210 pounds. I come to fight and, as of recently, I have been trying to prove to people that I come to fight and not shy away from anyone, not trying to be cute, but straight up and fight.

Chris, do you think you can test his chin?

Oh no, that is something I really do not concern myself with. We train to box and win. If you catch somebody, you catch them, and if not, you go 12 rounds. I do not look at a guy’s previous fight. I know what kind of talent Wladimir will have and I respect it a lot. I do not go and try and test anybody’s chin because if you do that, he will test mine. So I just go in and give it my all and put on a good show.

Wladimir, you are in a similar situation to Chris in that you have won the title, but you have also been criticized for your stamina and your chin. Do you think that the criticism is fair or do you think it has kind of been overblown?

On your way to the top, you always get some criticism. Criticism is a great motivation. Failure is not an option to me.

Do you feel any necessity or any need to disprove the critics, or can you do what you did against Samuel Peter and just focus on what Emanuel told you to do and box your way to the title if you have to do that?

I understand they have to talk about it, but I believe in myself and I will do it in my way.

So you are a more confident fighter as a result of getting up from those knockdowns in the Williams and Peter fights than you are skeptical about your ability?

I am a complete fighter right now.

What weight do you see yourself coming in at? 240.

As for me, it is between 212-215. That is just the normal weight for me. I feel very comfortable and strong. Anything above that is too big for me.

Chris, your style has been quite successful against big men, but you have also taken a bit of flak for not being as exciting as you could. Has this caused any changes? Are you going to look to fight differently in order to become a little bit more exciting?

I think when you fight the top challengers of the world, you have to adjust to many different styles. One style just will not cut it fighting such big guys. So I am still an elusive guy and fast, but at the same time gritty. But at the same time, if that does not work, I can resort to something else. So I just try to adapt everything and make it more exciting.

Wladimir, do you think there is a certain bias against you and your brother for just being so much bigger than the opponent?

Of course. I think it is normal that the smaller guys get more sympathy than the bigger ones in the fight. But I will repeat myself again and have success is in the performance. So everybody has their own advantage.

Chris, this is your first fight without Don King as your promoter. Could you comment on how that has made you feel a little bit looser and more happy?

I am so pumped. I had a great training camp without Don calling me and bothering me with certain things — you know, negotiations. It has been great. I feel free. I am not going to bash Don too much, but I am a lot happier than I was.

Where are you staying?

I am staying at the hotel. I visited the Air Force and the Army Hospital yesterday. So it was pretty cool. But I am not staying on the base.

Chris, right now we have two Europeans heading things up in the heavyweight division with Wladimir looking for his shot, which makes it a European division. Do you feel any extra added pressure as an American to bring that title home?

No, not at all. I am not putting any extra pressure on myself. Representing America for the title is great, but at the same time, if you can fight – and there are a lot of great fighters all over the world, a lot of great heavyweights – you can fight and on any given night it can be a new champion. So I respect all these guys and I respect their ability all over the world, the fighters that get in the ring in the heavyweight division. Things happen. It is like basketball in the Olympics. The other countries are coming up everywhere playing great basketball and winning the gold medal, and America has got to tend to their p’s and q’s to stay on top because there is talent everywhere. The same with boxing. It is just showing that there is a lot of talent all around the world, not only in the smaller weights, but in the heavyweight division. You have match-ups from guys all over the world to make this division really strong. It does not matter where you are from. If you can fight, you can become champion of the world.
Wladimir, Chris touched on a point. It is not just the heavyweights where the Europeans are making a mark now. Looking across the board, people from Europe are champions in a lot of things.

Why do you think there has been such a surge of Europeans coming in and really starting to dominate in not only the heavyweights, but all the weight classes?

You open your minds very much for it, actually pay attention to it. It depends only on the fighters and only on how good they are, and that is it. I really do not care where they come from. I do not know why it is so important to you guys.

Chris, boxing may be the only sport where the media feels that they have the right or the ability to claim who won a fight regardless of what the judges say or who the real champion is despite who owns the title. When a boxer that you have beaten was declared by The Ring magazine as the true champion, how did that make you feel?

Oh, stuff used to bother me as I was coming up and what people said or what they thought. It does not matter. I think when you get in the ring and fight, we have to prove it there. What people say, even about the fight with myself and Wladimir, they can say we are No. 1 overall, which is great. But you still have three other guys up there that are saying, “No, I am the best guy.” Until we fight each other, that is when you really prove it. So what people in the media say about certain guys and their abilities and who they think are the best, it really does not matter. Opinions and polls and independent ranking do not mean anything. That is just your opinion. Until you fight the best, you know you are the best and each one of the champions feel that they are the best in the world. So until you fight, that is when you find out.

Chris, considering that Wladimir has been down nine times in his last seven fights, are you going to try to check his chin early on even though that is not your style?

No, not at all. Like I said , if you try to check somebody’s chin, you will get checked. You have got to work on the things you did in the gym and try to make it work for you and execute it throughout the whole fight, and not get hit with the big bombs. I am a small guy in a big man’s division, and Wladimir is one of the big, talented guys. So I have to be very smart in what I am doing and just fight a complete fight and not worry about knockouts or trying to check somebody’s chin. Just box. Let the cards fall where they may.

Wladimir, you got mostly knockouts in your career, but you have gone to the decision in your last fight and it looks like you are starting to be more of a boxer than just a puncher. Are you looking to get a knockout in this fight?

I think that is the best win that you can have. Win by points or lose by points or whatever, after the boxing is over, and people after that have so many questions as to who won. To win by KO is the best answer for all those questions.

Wladimir, do you think as a champion that you are going to be more active?
Of course.

End Press Questions. Begin Closing Comments.

Hopefully, we can put on a great fight Saturday night and may the best man win.
Enjoy the fight.