Bob fitzsimmons Vs Chris Byrd

[BitPlayer]

Anyone else see any similarity with the whole leaning back style?


(obviously he was a shell at this point but the footage is better)

[gilgamesh]

I'm reading a very thick book on Fitzsimmons right now, but honestly even after reading the book, and watching what little footage there is of Fitz I don't know if that'd be enough to go on to say who'd win this.

I do know Fitz was a crafty fighter though, and a good body puncher which could well be enough for him to break down and stop Byrd over the long haul.

Not sure how he'd deal with the athleticism of Byrd. I figure Byrd would trouble him early with his speed for sure, it'd be a question of whether Fitz could get to his body enough early to slow him down late.

[BitPlayer]

I'm reading a very thick book on Fitzsimmons right now, but honestly even after reading the book, and watching what little footage there is of Fitz I don't know if that'd be enough to go on to say who'd win this.

I do know Fitz was a crafty fighter though, and a good body puncher which could well be enough for him to break down and stop Byrd over the long haul.

Not sure how he'd deal with the athleticism of Byrd. I figure Byrd would trouble him early with his speed for sure, it'd be a question of whether Fitz could get to his body enough early to slow him down late.

Another way might be to think how Byrd compares to Corbett. I think Corbett was faster and stayed still less, but he also tried to be too clever for his own good a couple times and got caught.

I do wish we had more footage of Fitz, we've only got him against the trickiest fighter of then by far, with no decent footage of the OK, and the 12th round when be was pretty ancient.

[Ambling Alp II]

It's awesome that any footage from Corbett-Fitzsimmons exists. I remember first seeing it a few years ago. Fitzsimmons was not slick but he could be crafty. He was such a hard puncher as well.

[Caractacus]

Vitali Klitschko came into that fight with a torn rotator cuff,
and he double-torn it early on in the fight causing him "Blinding Pain".

[HomicideHenry]

Byrd wins... He was too elusive...

[Ambling Alp II]

Vitali Klitschko came into that fight with a torn rotator cuff,
and he double-torn it early on in the fight causing him "Blinding Pain".

You have to be kidding. So now he had the rotator cuff injury before the fight? The story gets better and better.

[Ambling Alp II]

I'm reading a very thick book on Fitzsimmons right now, but honestly even after reading the book, and watching what little footage there is of Fitz I don't know if that'd be enough to go on to say who'd win this.

I do know Fitz was a crafty fighter though, and a good body puncher which could well be enough for him to break down and stop Byrd over the long haul.

Not sure how he'd deal with the athleticism of Byrd. I figure Byrd would trouble him early with his speed for sure, it'd be a question of whether Fitz could get to his body enough early to slow him down late.

Another way might be to think how Byrd compares to Corbett. I think Corbett was faster and stayed still less, but he also tried to be too clever for his own good a couple times and got caught.

I do wish we had more footage of Fitz, we've only got him against the trickiest fighter of then by far, with no decent footage of the OK, and the 12th round when be was pretty ancient.

Can't say this is matchup that I ever thought about. In some ways Byrd was like Corbett as you say. However, Byrd was not as fast on his feet. Byrd could be hit. Fitz was the better fighter and there would have been a good chance he would have got to him sooner or later.

[BitPlayer]

It's awesome that any footage from Corbett-Fitzsimmons exists. I remember first seeing it a few years ago. Fitzsimmons was not slick but he could be crafty. He was such a hard puncher as well.

He certainly was a better fighter than a boxer, though the footage is probably harsh on him. Imagine judging just off a fight with Roy Jones Jr

[BitPlayer]

Byrd wins... He was too elusive...

Interesting. Do you think he was more elusive than Corbett, or just harder to stop?

[Caractacus]

Vitali Klitschko came into that fight with a torn rotator cuff,
and he double-torn it early on in the fight causing him "Blinding Pain".

You have to be kidding. So now he had the rotator cuff injury before the fight? The story gets better and better.

Yes, that is what I had read(somewhere),
and I ain't lying neither none.

[Ambling Alp II]

I'm not saying that you didn't read it somewhere. I just hope you know that there is no way that is true. He quit like a dog and people are tying to spin into him being courageous.
Anyway, I think we hijacking this thread which is supposed to be about Byrd and Fitzsimmons. If you want to discuss Klitschko's quit job further, maybe you could start another thread about that.

[Caractacus]

i'm pretty sure there is already a thread about that fight from not too long ago.
I will try and bump it up.

[gilgamesh]

Vitali Klitschko came into that fight with a torn rotator cuff,
and he double-torn it early on in the fight causing him "Blinding Pain".

Jesus Chavez had either a torn rotator cuff or a dislocated shoulder or something early on in the fight with Erik Morales. He was essentially a one armed fighter from the 2nd round onward. He still fought gamely for the entire 12 round distance in spite of being a one armed man and being behind on the cards.

Vitali quitting a fight he was winning so thoroughly that all he had to do was go 2 rounds and do nothing more than move around the ring, and stay on his feet to win.

While I don't fault any fighter for quitting in a fight where they're in great pain...after all it's the sensible thing to do really. It can't be denied that many a fighter in that same position wouldn't have quit.

I admire Vitali Klitschko so I'm not trying to sh*t on him necessarily just calling this situation how I see it as I always do.

[Boxing Writer]

Vitali Klitschko came into that fight with a torn rotator cuff,
and he double-torn it early on in the fight causing him "Blinding Pain".

Jesus Chavez had either a torn rotator cuff or a dislocated shoulder or something early on in the fight with Erik Morales. He was essentially a one armed fighter from the 2nd round onward. He still fought gamely for the entire 12 round distance in spite of being a one armed man and being behind on the cards.

Vitali quitting a fight he was winning so thoroughly that all he had to do was go 2 rounds and do nothing more than move around the ring, and stay on his feet to win.

While I don't fault any fighter for quitting in a fight where they're in great pain...after all it's the sensible thing to do really. It can't be denied that many a fighter in that same position wouldn't have quit.

I admire Vitali Klitschko so I'm not trying to sh*t on him necessarily just calling this situation how I see it as I always do.

I think Viatli didn't feel he was winning the fight by 7 points margin. The fight was clearly closer than it was shown on the scorecards. Byrd won at least 3 rounds. I scored the fight 5-3-1 at the time of the stoppage and Vitali looked tired.

[jamamb]

i had it 6-3 vitali. he was clearly ahead by several rounds, though imo if bryd won all the remaining rounds it wouldve been a draw. some guy on here who seethes with rage for the klits had bryd winning and that to me is just absurd. good sign to know that someone isnt exactly fair to vit, and i say that as someone who probably critical enough of vit to be deemed a 'hater'

so he had the injury from the third and then decided to wait all the way until the 10th when he has a big lead to play the 'dont want to aggravate it' game? just seems strange. he couldve not thrown any punches with it for the rest of the fight and probably wouldve still won

but this is for the other thread i guess

[HomicideHenry]

Byrd wins... He was too elusive...

Interesting. Do you think he was more elusive than Corbett, or just harder to stop?

Too elusive. Corbett, despite the image of him being a runner would actually mix it up and dig down deep to brawl when called to do so. Byrd never made a habit of mixing it up, and was just faster than most in evading opponents attacks. The only time I recall him attempting to mix it up was in the outrageous strategy of brawling with Klitschko in their rematch and he paid for it tremendously.