Chris Byrd vs. Wladimir Klitschko

Chris Byrd vs. Wladimir Klitschko, billed as Die Rache des Bruders (German for "Revenge Of The Brother"),[1] was a professional boxing match contested on 14 October 2000 for the WBO Heavyweight Championship.[2]

Die Rache des Bruders
Date14 October 2000
VenueKolnarena, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Title(s) on the lineWBO Heavyweight Championship
Tale of the tape
Boxer United States Chris Byrd Ukraine Wladimir Klitschko
Nickname "Rapid Fire" "Dr Steelhammer"
Hometown Flint, Michigan, US Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine
Pre-fight record 31–1 (19 KO) 34–1 (32 KO)
Age 30 years, 1 month 24 years, 6 months
Height 6 ft 1+12 in (187 cm) 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Weight 213+12 lb (97 kg) 238 lb (108 kg)
Style Southpaw Orthodox
Recognition WBO
Heavyweight Champion
WBO
No. 1 Ranked Heavyweight
Result
Klitschko defeated Byrd via Unanimous Decision

Background

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After his shock victory over the undefeated Vitali Klitschko, following Vitali suffering a torn rotator cuff, Chris Byrd agreed to face his number one contender, and Vitali's younger brother Wladimir.[3] Wladimir Klitschko had won ten fights in a row following his first pro loss at the hands of journeyman Ross Puritty in December 1998.

The fight

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Klitschko knocked Byrd down in round nine and again in round eleven on route to a clear unanimous decision victory with scores of 120-106, 119-107 & 118-108, giving him his first world title belt.

Aftermath

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Wladimir would go on to make six defences of his title before he suffered a knockout loss to Corrie Sanders in March 2003. Byrd would win his next four bouts, including against Maurice Harris and David Tua in an IBF heavyweight title "eliminator" mini-tournament which put him in line for a shot at the IBF belt then held by Lennox Lewis. Lewis would vacate the title and Byrd would face former champion Evander Holyfield for the vacant belt.

Undercard

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Confirmed bouts:[4]

Broadcasting

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Country Broadcaster
  Germany Sat.1[5]
  United Kingdom Sky Box Office[6]

References

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  1. ^ ""Die Rache des Bruders": "Kleiner Klitschko" mit "Gänsehaut"". rp-online.de. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Chris Byrd vs. Wladimir Klitschko (1st meeting)- BoxRec". boxrec.com.
  3. ^ "April 1, 2000: Klitschko vs Byrd". thefightcity.com.
  4. ^ "BoxRec - event".
  5. ^ ""Die Rache des Bruders": Wladimir Klitschko fordert WBO-Weltmeister Chris Byrd heraus - am 14. Oktober 2000 live in SAT.1 | Pressemitteilung SAT.1". presseportal.de. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  6. ^ "2000-10-14".
Preceded by Chris Byrd' bouts
14 October 2000
Succeeded by
vs. David Vedder
Preceded by Wladimir Klitschko's bouts
14 October 2000
Succeeded by