[Boxing] HBO nor Showtime wants to show Byrd vs. Williamson.

[dr.zoidberg]

Never mind the fact that Byrd is one of the best boxing heavyweights out there. People would say that Byrd is boring because he dominated his fights, well those were against those fat heavyweights. Well, Williamson isn't a fat heavyweight. People would say that this is not a crowd pleaser. First of all, for all you fans that crave KO's, Williamson has shown a suspect chin in the past(see his fight against Joe Mesi). Also, Byrd has slowed down in recent years. So Williamson, who has decent power, actually has a chance to hit him. Add to the fact that Byrd likes to throw a lot of punches, and I believe that we can have a fun fight.

Now HBO and Showtime have shown no interest in showing this fight. What I would like to see is ESPN pick up the fight either for a PPV or for a special edition of Friday Night Fights. Imagine the coup ESPN could pull if they could get an IBF heavyweight title fight that could possibly be seen on ESPN or ESPN2, both of which are available in many, many households.

[Sean138666]

1. It's probably a good thing that...

Showtime and especially HBO will not show the fight. I've noticed their commentators have little to no respect for boxers. You know what I'd like to see? USA Tuesday Night Fights back on the air. Remember that show? That's where I'd like to see that fight.

Hey, what do you think of Ring Magazine naming Vitali Klitschko as champion? I say he's not, until he fights Byrd again.

BY THE WAY...I'm a returning member; my Earthlink account got cancelled, and therefore so did my DU membership...not that I had many posts anyway :)

[dr.zoidberg]

4. I've never liked Vitali as Ring champ.

I feel this way mainly because it seems that Ring magazine felt pressured to name a heavyweight champion. It seems that he was given the belt because he lost to Lennox Lewis. No one can honestly say that he truly is the Ring champ. At the same time, I can honestly say that no heavyweight deserves to be called "The Man" in the division.

[soothsayer]

2. I've got a third row seat for Jimmy Lange! (Are the guys on The

Contender considered serious boxers? He's our local guy.)

Yup, I remember boxing on regular old tv. I'd be happier to see you Byrd fight on ESPN, too, so it gets more play.

[Sean138666]

3. Yeah

The Contender guys were real boxers, as opposed to De La Hoya's farcical show (Next Great Champ). Some of the Contenders had fought on ESPN2 and were top contenders for belts at one point. A few of them were also New Faces in Ring Magazine.

[H2O Man]

5. Chris Byrd is an

outstanding boxer. I have always enjoyed watching his fights. The people who don't enjoy him likely wouldn't have cared for Willie Pep.

I think that he is getting to the end of his career. His reflexes aren't what they used to be, and more than a "big puncher," a great stylist depends on those reflexes to get him through.

His cousin is a good fighter, too. He took Golata out in a round.

The guys from the old Tuesday Night Fights were actually calling this past weekend's card, promoted by Don King, with George Foreman. They are not my first choice, though Sean O'Grady is always interesting. I prefer the guys from ESPN to anyone else on now.