Chris Byrd Fight Quotations

To fight three times in three years is crazy. It has been disappointing to the point of sometimes you get frustrated and really just want to retire. I have been to that point, but God is faithful and I just keep plugging along. I just have to remain patient and fights will happen, but it has been disappointing.

Hopefully, the referee will do his job. Hopefully, we just fight and give a good performance to the crowd.

I was willing to fight anybody but, at the same time, I was timid of the bigger guys.

I will fight you, and I will be wiser doing it. I just don't want to take punches for no reason, but at the same time I need to box from the outside. I can box and make him miss. But if I want to get in the trenches and fight, I can do that also. I do not fear anybody anymore as far as taking their shot.

I think I am more confident now in my ability to fight bigger, taller guys. I just want to show I am the best out there. I am going to beat him.

We knew we were going to have to fight each other eventually,

I used to be crazy about being the best, No. 1. I wanted to be considered No. 1 heavyweight in the world and everybody know it. But now, at this point in my career, how things have been going in my career and not getting certain fights and people ducking me, I just concentrate on who I am boxing and I do not worry about the unification thing. You cannot make somebody fight you. Whatever happens, happens.

(Toney) was the headlining fight coming in, ... We just got added to the card. I guess they did not want to change it. It does not matter. ? I am just boxing. As long as the check clears, I do not care if I was the first fight coming out.

I know what kind of talent Wladimir will have and I respect that a lot. Yes, he has a great jab. He has a great arsenal of punches. But I come to fight and not shy away from anyone. I go in and give it my all and put on a good show.

Oh, please James is running scared. James has got the biggest mouth in boxing, but he does not have any heart. He had a chance to fight me when he fought John Ruiz. We thought we were going to make something then. Then it fell apart.

Nobody beats me twice. Five years ago, I was more of a finesse fighter. I was willing to fight anybody, but at the same time I was timid of the bigger guys. I do not fear anybody anymore as far as taking their shot.

DaVarryl wanted to fight his way to the spot and Wladimir didn't want no part of it. They just wanted everything set up in their favor, knowing going to Germany is not a great thing for any American fighter.

It just blossomed from there, ... He worked with my son with basketball. I ask about his kids and his wife, and he knows about my kids and my wife, so we call each other periodically. We are just friends. It is cool. But we knew in the heavyweight division, even after sparring with each other, we knew we are going to have to fight each other eventually.

I feel I'll get more credibility by coming over to Germany and winning than if I did it anywhere else. I'm ready to fight and prove I really belong in this division. I may be a small guy, but I want to be huge in the division as far as being the man.