Byrd-Holyfield Predictions

By Jim De Pierro

Chris Byrd 35-2 (20 KOs) vs. Evander Holyfield 38-5-2 (25 KOs)

14.12 - I have to give credit where credit is due and I have to hand it to Evander Holyfield. He really turned back the clock in his last fight with Hasim Rahman. The head butts were certainly a contributing factor but I think Rahman would have lost the fight regardless. Having just watched that fight I can’t see Holyfield-Byrd ending in a similar manner. That’s not to say I don’t think Holyfield can’t win but Byrd’s approach to fighting Holyfield is going to be completely different. Holyfield didn’t have to look for Rahman the way he is going to have to look for the elusive Chris Byrd.

I read a comment a while back where Byrd said something to the effect that if he gets caught with a head butt then it is his fault because he was inside trading punches with Holyfield where he shouldn’t be in the first place. That is exactly how I feel. Holyfield for his part I think is clearly not looking past Chris Byrd. When Holyfield starts talking about visions he received from God about his upcoming fight is when you know Holyfield is either over confident or not focused. I think Holyfield might be a little intimidated fighting someone just as holy as he is. Seriously I don’t think Byrd at all intimidates Holyfield. I do think Holyfield has this sort of Christian pride where he sees himself as some sort of Christian warrior. I know not everyone will agree with that statement but I think Holyfield is a little off the deep end when it comes to religion.

Many fight fans find the boxing style of Chris Byrd boring and tedious to watch. The conventional wisdom is that Byrd won’t sit and fight in the trenches. I disagree with that statement. Byrd does fight in the trenches. The problem is that Byrd dodges the bullets and fires a BB gun when his opponents are trying to take him out with M-16’s. The irony is that Byrd more times than not usually wins despite being outweighed and outgunned. Most people, myself included tend to like sluggers and guys that are continually coming forward to press the fight. I have a hard time respecting fighters I consider runners like Paul Spadafora or Camacho Sr. but Byrd I can respect. Byrd is a defensive fighter but his defense isn’t built around running so much as it is about standing in front of someone and making them miss. Byrd has been in some stinker but I think Byrd is a fun fighter to watch if he is matched up correctly. Personally I enjoyed his bouts with Tua, Ibeabuchi and to a lesser extent Maurice Harris. Byrd’s fights against the Klitschko brothers were boring because the physical dimensions of the brothers made the fight to uncompetitive. Fighters like Vaughn Bean, Larry Donald or Orlin Norris are boring no matter who you put them in against.

I can respect Holyfield in the sense that he has always been upfront in his reluctance to fight Chris Byrd. Holyfield has made no secret that if a title wasn’t at stake he would not take a fight with Byrd. The good news for Evander Holyfield is that he is not likely to get beaten up by the feather fisted Byrd. The bad news is that he takes a chance of not only losing but also losing badly. If Byrd were to put on a boxing clinic and make Holyfield look like a 40-year old fighter shot fighter then Holyfield would find himself effectively shut out for at least a year and maybe even two years of getting another crack at the WBA, WBC or IBF belt. Chris Byrd, should he win will be looking to fight the winner of Jones-Ruiz and then Lewis after that if Lewis is still around. It will be a cold day in hell before Lewis would ever fight Holyfield again for a third time. Lewis schedule is pretty well booked up with Klitschko brothers and an anticipated rematch with Mike Tyson, which doesn’t leave much room for Holyfield. Ruiz-Holyfield IV just isn’t marketable and I don’t think that fight would ever come to fruition even if Ruiz beats Jones and Holyfield emerges victorious Saturday night. The only route left for Holyfield to go if he loses is the WBO strap and a fight between Wladimir Klitschko and Evander Holyfield is a fight only a sadist could take pleasure in watching.

For Byrd the key to victory will be to fight when Holyfield doesn’t want to fight. Holyfield in his latter years no longer fights a full 3-minute of every round. Byrd’s success will be determined by what he is doing when Holyfield is not throwing punches. Holyfield, I think is entering this fight in the right state of mind in that he is going to be patient and not try for the KO. I think Holyfield’s best shot is to try for a decision and I expect that is what he will try to do. The problem as I see it is that I just don’t think his body is quite up to the task of beating a very focused and determined Chris Byrd. The Holy man will have his moments in this fight but I think even a prime Holyfield would have his hands full with Chris Byrd. If Holyfield had trouble with a prime Michael Moorer, Chris Byrd who is even more skilled and actually has a chin is going to give Holyfield fits.

I don’t have high expectations for this fight as I think it will be a fight where both fighters are going to be too respectful of each other. If this fight turns out even average as far as entertainment goes I will be pleasantly surprised. Of course last week I was expecting a war between McCline and Klitschko and instead what I got was a route, as McCloser did nothing but try to survive. This contest will be more of a battle of brains than a battle of brawns. I think Byrd should win about eight or nine of the scheduled twelve rounds. My hunch is that there is going to be one of these wacky scorecards from way out in left field that will see the fight in Holyfield’s favor while the other two scorecards will favor Byrd.

Chris Byrd SD over Evander Holyfield

* * * * Bonus Prediction * * * *

Evander Holyfield’s career will end with a total of 9 losses on his record (even if he beats Byrd) and will not come to a close until the year 2005. Look for Holyfield to be inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the year 2010.

Agree? Disagree? Think I’m full of it? E-mail me at jdepierro@adelphia.net or post a comment and tell me what you think.