Wladimir Klitschko (46-3) scored a decisive victory over Chris Byrd (39-3-1) with a TKO in Mannheim, Germany to win the IBF and IBO Heavyweight Title. After being knocked down for the second time, in three rounds, the fight was stopped 41 seconds into the 7th round. This was Klitschko’s second victory over Byrd, the first coming courtesy of a unanimous decision victory back in 2000. This outcome was nothing different.
Klitschko Scores TKO, Wins IBF/IBO Title
Wladimir Klitschko (46-3) scored a decisive victory over Chris Byrd (39-3-1) with a TKO in Mannheim, Germany to win the IBF and IBO Heavyweight Title. After being knocked down for the second time, in three rounds, the fight was stopped 41 seconds into the 7th round. This was Klitschko’s second victory over Byrd, the first coming courtesy of a unanimous decision victory back in 2000. This outcome was nothing different.
In a fight that started slow for both fighters, Klitschko began to take full control from the fourth round on. Courtesy of a 1-2 left-right combo, Klitschko knocked down Byrd one minute into the fifth round. After Byrd got up, Wladimir continued to punch away at a defenseless Byrd for over a minute until he chose to save his energy for the rounds ahead and took the last 30 seconds of the round off.
All fight Byrd had been unable to get close enough to test Klitschko’s supposed weak chin due to Klitschko’s continuous jabbing. For the final two rounds, Klitschko continued to use his jab to keep Byrd at bay, eventually setting him for the second knockdown of Byrd in the seventh round.
Entering the seventh round, Byrd’s only chance of winning the fight would be to score a knockout victory, but his plan went sour when Klitschko’s nailed Byrd with a right hook that sent him on his butt for the second time. After struggling to find his balance, and with a deep cut above his left eye that was gushing with blood, the referee was forced to stop the fight.
With this victory, Klitschko not only wins the IBF Title but secures his status as the best fighter in the Heavyweight division. Next in line for Klitschko; he plans to unify the heavyweight division, which could set up a possible Hasim Rahman fight, the current WBC Heavyweight Champion. Byrd is not sure what the future holds for him. "I will talk to the wife," he said. "I enjoy this a lot, of course not when you`re pounded like that."
Touchgloves.com Note: After losing the first round, Touchgloves had Klitschko ahead in the fight 59-54 entering the 7th round.
