Chris Byrd schooled Vitali Klitschko on only 10 days' notice

[ykdadamaja]

had to go back and watch those last few rounds. He was still able to throw with the left hand, but I think Chris Byrd knew he was hurt and wearing down, and was going on the offensive, and Vitali knew that Chris Byrd knew that and in a moment of weakness, he quit. I bet that decision haunted him for awhile.

BTW I LOVE Chris Byrd. Totally underrated slickster in the ring.

But Vitali could have ran the rest of the fight and still won. He didn't need to throw another punch. And it wasn't as if he was fighting Ike Ibeabuchi or Mike Tyson, it was Chris Byrd. The only puncher that punches softer than Byrd is Paulie Malinaggi.

[Beanflicker]

But Vitali could have ran the rest of the fight and still won. He didn't need to throw another punch. And it wasn't as if he was fighting Ike Ibeabuchi or Mike Tyson, it was Chris Byrd. The only puncher that punches softer than Byrd is Paulie Malinaggi.

Yeah I don't know why he didn't at least try. I guess that was his "no mas" moment (although not nearly as embarassing, at least he had a legit injury).

[palmerq]

seeing as byrd made vitali quit does that make him better than lewis as vitali was still very willing to fight on v lewis...There's only one way to find out FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lets get 101 million together, 100 to lewis and 1 to byrd and we will find out the truth here... forget tyson holyfield 3, byrd v lewis is what everyone wants to see ....


as for vitali quiting v byrd I can understand why, vitali was still on the way up at the time and if his shoulder was really bad he could have done some serious long lasting damage to it and damaged his future career.... a fight v byrd for a small title isnt really worth that..

[Max Power]

Chris Byrd fought his best and eluded a lot of damage as always, made Vitali miss a lot. Other than that he performed terrible against him, Vitali won nearly every round. It was only through his gift retirement via major injury not caused by any punch which presented Byrd with a belt.

I love Byrd personally but there's no way he could beat legitimately either Klitschko... EVER! lol

[brocktonblockbust]

vit klit dicked out....Marciano fought with his nose hanging off. Ali fought with contused kidneys and Ali fought 15 rounds with Ken Norton with a broken jaw.

yeah, vit klit will never be a Marciano, and he will never be an Ali either.

[Max Power]

blockbuster;

I will agree with you on that comment.

In the sense you are referring too above, the Klits lack "toughness" and the old timers clearly had that. It's changing times. I could argue that the Klits have far more self respect and are far smarter though.

However I would also like to add that Vitali retiring against Byrd was one of the two most disgraceful acts in HW boxing (the other being "chicken Bowe").

All he had to do was go out there and defend for a couple of rounds and he would have won the fight without throwing another single punch.

Larry Merchant was correct. He did not display the mentality of a champion!

Since then, however, he did in fact earn back his respect!

[Beanflicker]

Larry Merchant was correct. He did not display the mentality of a champion!

Since then, however, he did in fact earn back his respect!

Agreed. I think he earned back his respect in the Lewis brawl. Those guys went to war.

[Master]

Larry Merchant was correct. He did not display the mentality of a champion!

Since then, however, he did in fact earn back his respect!

Agreed. I think he earned back his respect in the Lewis brawl. Those guys went to war.

Vitali has shown he has a great chin and heart subsequently and luckily not defined by that defeat.