Byrd to Migrate Back Home

Chris Byrd had high aspirations for his new campaign at Light Heavyweight. His compelling weight loss tale had the boxing world buzzing about in the weeks leading to the fight. Byrd's intentions were clear from the beginning; to seek out the very best fighters of the talented division.  However, he did not intend to find himself fighting for his boxing career in his first bout at the new weight against a fairly unknown and underrated fighter.

Byrd came out in the first round (svelte as ever) and fought the way that he was supposed to fight - that is if he were still a  heavyweight.  He slowly moved around the ring on flat feet holding his hands up like punching mitts and picking very few moments to wing any meaningful shots. His counterpart, Shaun George, was moving much quicker, showing Byrd different angles and using his superior feet and hands to pepper him with punches.  

In didn't take long for the vast difference of speed and ability to overwhelm Byrd and after being wobbled a few times, he hit the canvas in the 1st round.  In between rounds, neither him nor his trainer had any ideas that would prove valuable in turning the fight around (one could have been -  stop moving and ducking to your left where his right hand is lighting you up every time it is thrown; but that's just me) 

The next seven rounds were clones of the first and although Byrd became a bit more comfortable at some-point, it was hard to give him any round.  In the 9th, George continued to land big shots and Byrd's dream of capturing the title in the light heavyweight division collapsed as fast as his legs did from underneath him.  He went down hard landing awkwardly, popping his shoulder out of the socket.  After getting up only to receive another barrage of punches, he went down again and this time he told the ref to stop the fight.

It seems Shaun George should be graciously thanking the promoter who landed him this fight.  Not to take anything away from George, but Byrd was obviously still in heavyweight mode (slow work rate, slow feet, slow hands) and I think any light heavy with some notable skill would have came out on top.  Look for George to garner some attention after this TKO stoppage. Look for Byrd to consider retirement.