Antonio Tarver vs Chris Byrd at light heavyweight. Who would win?

Question

Antonio Tarver vs Chris Byrd at light heavyweight. Who would win?

Answer 1

Byrd

Answer 2

WOW, I never thought I would see a question where the prevailing wisdom would say "Chris Byrd would win".....

....but.....

One, I really have to say that Antonio Tarver is somewhat overrated. Yes he beat Roy Jones...but that wasnt so much Tarver's skill so much as it was his physique. He was just awkward. He had longer arms, was southpaw...Jones really was just lost in how to hit him. Aside from the second fight...Tarver never really out and out BEAT Jones...he just stayed with him.

Also, and I hate to fling sh*t but it has to be flung...Tarver is not really a "boxers boxer"...he was more content to do crack when he was younger than to box...this leads me to believe that he is somewhat weak willed when pressed.

Now, so far as the press.....

Chris Byrd does NOT hit worth a d*mn at heavyweight...but those flurries would look like bombs on Tarver. Remember Byrd has fought both Klitchkos...so he wont hit the floor. Byrd will shoe shine ALOT...and be completely out of the way by the time Tarver sets up to swing back.

Truth of the matter is, the bigger weapon in boxing than the hands are the feet. Tarver is flat footed and fleeting....Byrd can sail across a ring like its a dance...and rarely get touched. He usually looks very ugly when he fights...but I think the weight drop would do him good.

Now, you wanna make an interesting fight? Watch the question IM gonna post  ;)

Answer 3

Dayum, never had that Q before.  Tarver.  

Tarver> RJJ> Chris Byrd.  Then after tarver wins, he would yap about it for the next 10 years.

Answer 4

Antonio Tarver by knockout in round 7

Answer 5

Chris Byrd.  I just don't think Tarver could do much to hurt Byrd.  Byrd split wins with the Klitsch brothers - his win coming when Vitali inexplicably quit in his corner having won a very lopsided fight to that point.   But he did go rounds with both of them- 7 with Wlad and 9 with Vitali.

I do not see Tarver lasting 30 seconds with either of them.  Byrd has very few KOs, and Tarver could make a fight of it, but I just don't think Tarver could do much to win.

Byrd is a small heavyweight, so I don't think the weight is much of an issue.

Personally, that would be a fight worth missing.

Answer 6

Byrd should be able to beat Tarver.

Answer 7

If B-Hop can beat Tarver, Byrd would too.  Chris doesn't hit hard for a heavyweight, but at 175 he has decent power and is a lot more active than Hopkins.  I think Byrd takes Tarver with easy, maybe even KO's Antonio late.  It wouldn't even be competitive.    Byrd would dominate most of the light heavyweights if he has even a fraction of his former skills left, but Chris isn't young any more and cutting the weight to get down to 175 must take a toll after years of fighting heavyweight.  

Interesting question, I favor Byrd, but it would depend on what is left in the tank, yo-yoing your weight gain/loss to fight in multiple divisions works ok going up in weight, but is very taxing if you try to come back down.  It is a dangerous move for Byrd, I would have to see Chris at 175 a couple times before any accurate opinion could be given.

Answer 8

I would take Byrd, just because the way Tarver has been fighting in his last couple of fights. Plus Byrd is used to fighting heavyweights, he'll take a punch better and hit harder. Will see how he looks in the ring on this weeks friday night fights on espn2.

Answer 9

the question is could byrd comfortably lose the necessary weight to campaign at light heavy?

as blogbaba said (wrote), we'll know more after byrd has had a few fights at 175......in the meantime, i say tarver.