Byrd, Klitschko, & Kipling

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

Approaching the date of the Klitschko-Byrd rematch, the words of Rudyard Kipling’s “IF?keep coming to mind. As the date draws nigh for the second clash between these two oft disrespected gladiators, the stream of consciousness over and over again retraces the steps both Wladimir and Chris have tread these last six years; how one has continuously fought against all odds to reach the mountain top which must appear as just beyond the next ledge, while the other was within one foothold of securing the summit, only to be toppled down into the valley below.

Now, here they are, center stage in a division riddled with obscurity and mediocrity, facing each other one more time with all the chips on the table. Byrd has never won the fans?hearts nor the “Big One?which would cement his legacy among the greats in heavyweight history. Wladimir, on the other hand, has broken the hearts of his fans by revealing that he was not a Ukrainian god and the savior of the division; but merely an all too flawed fighter and, consequentially, all too human.

In Kipling’s “If? a father is giving advice to his son on what it takes to be “a man? [details]

[K-DOGG]

Everybody expects Wlad to win easily; but I believe that Lewis, who didn't fight Byrd when he was his mandatory, Roy Jones, who didn't fight Byrd when he could have after beating Ruiz, and PBF know something. Remember how everybody dismissed Joe Calzaghe when he signed to fight Lacy? What won the day was skill and speed. Byrd, to be a naturally smaller man who has readily taken on and beaten giants has the heart of a heavyweight, the speed of a light-heavyweight, and the skill a smaller man needs to win. Boxing is 90% mental; and if Chris is determined enough, he can win. If nothing else, people will remember his performance in this fight for he knows it is essentially his swan song....and I wll not be surprised if he wins. Upsets are the norm at the moment.

[PBDS]

Everybody expects Wlad to win easily; but I believe that Lewis, who didn't fight Byrd when he was his mandatory, Roy Jones, who didn't fight Byrd when he could have after beating Ruiz, and PBF know something. Remember how everybody dismissed Joe Calzaghe when he signed to fight Lacy? What won the day was skill and speed. Byrd, to be a naturally smaller man who has readily taken on and beaten giants has the heart of a heavyweight, the speed of a light-heavyweight, and the skill a smaller man needs to win. Boxing is 90% mental; and if Chris is determined enough, he can win. If nothing else, people will remember his performance in this fight for he knows it is essentially his swan song....and I wll not be surprised if he wins. Upsets are the norm at the moment.

....Yeah those guys know something alright. That they don't like Wladimir.

[K-DOGG]

....Yeah those guys know something alright. That they don't like Wladimir.

You think they haven't seen Wlad fight? Strange.

[PBDS]

You think they haven't seen Wlad fight? Strange.

...I think they are talking **** because they don't like him for whatever reason. I think that was pretty clear.

[K-DOGG]

...I think they are talking **** because they don't like him for whatever reason. I think that was pretty clear.

Possible; but I don't think so. I really think they're picking Byrd based on something in his style or make-up versus Wlad's.

[Pno]

I don't know for sure who said what about the Byrd/Klitschko fight... but I know that Lenox Lewis said before the Rahman/Toney fight that Wladamir is the future of the HW division (something to that effect). Now if he's all of a sudden saying that Byrd will win, that's pretty double standard-ish.

as far as Byrd winning just on heart, skill and speed... possible, but even with the great defensive skills he has, all it takes is for Wlad to land a nice clean shot to stun Byrd and it can all be over in a flash. Wlad is offensively efficient, so to slip and dodge him for 12 whole rounds is a big order..

[K-DOGG]

Prediction-wise, this is about the hardest fight to call I’ve ever encountered. Picking Wlad in a repeat performance is so easy it scares me. I believe in ebb and flow to life as much as any one man’s determination to reach a goal; there is a balance which can only be felt and not necessarily seen. Common sense surely points to Wlad. He’s younger while Chris is on the slide. He’s bigger, stronger, fast in his own right, and has experience that rivals Byrd’s. The thing that concerns me about the easiness of such a call is the “X-Factor? The X-Factor is that Chris has never been respected as a fighter and is getting old and knows people think he’s going to lose. Any fighter you meet has tremendous pride in their abilities, especially a world champion; and Chris is a belt holder with something to prove?.and he has to prove it against the man who pounded him for 12 rounds and dropped him twice when he was in his physical prime. How bad does Chris want the respect he’s always been denied? Remember, Chris could have probably had a very successful Light-heavyweight or Super Middleweight career; but chose to fight bigger stronger men?and has beaten all; but Wlad and Ibeabuchi?.that says something about his character. Also, we’ve seen Wlad quit against Purity and suffer a panic attack (my honest opinion) against Brewster, which was a high-pressure situation where the man he was beating on refused to submit.

While I will not officially pick an upset, I will say the stage is set for one; and I will not be surprised if Chirs Byrd puts on the performance of his career and dominates the last portion of the fight with counter-punching. There’s an eerie feeling about this one and while the vibes say Chris, the mind says Wladimir. No way would I bet on this one either way?.too much of an undercurrent.

[beez721]

Everybody expects Wlad to win easily; but I believe that Lewis, who didn't fight Byrd when he was his mandatory, Roy Jones, who didn't fight Byrd when he could have after beating Ruiz, and PBF know something. Remember how everybody dismissed Joe Calzaghe when he signed to fight Lacy? What won the day was skill and speed. Byrd, to be a naturally smaller man who has readily taken on and beaten giants has the heart of a heavyweight, the speed of a light-heavyweight, and the skill a smaller man needs to win. Boxing is 90% mental; and if Chris is determined enough, he can win. If nothing else, people will remember his performance in this fight for he knows it is essentially his swan song....and I wll not be surprised if he wins. Upsets are the norm at the moment.

well,,the problem is wlad already dominated a quicker in his prime byrd. I think wlad has become more vulnerable since then but byrd isnt a puncher which makes it difficult to imagine him taking this fight. jones and lewis maybe voting from there hearts instead of there heads. these guys said the same thing about vitali's last 2 opponents,,at least I know lewis did

[K-DOGG]

well,,the problem is wlad already dominated a quicker in his prime byrd. I think wlad has become more vulnerable since then but byrd isnt a puncher which makes it difficult to imagine him taking this fight. jones and lewis maybe voting from there hearts instead of there heads. these guys said the same thing about vitali's last 2 opponents,,at least I know lewis did

True about Wlad dominating Byrd in his prime; but Chris fought different back then. Also, Wlad now has doubts about himself he didn't then. Back then his confidence was through the roof, since Sanders, not so. No, Chris doesn't have any power; but boxing is a thinking man's game so Chris winning a decision is conceivable. I've just got a weird vibe about this fight.