24 years ago
Chris Byrd vs Wladimir Klitschko
Date: 14th October 2000
Venue: Kolnarena, Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen
Title: WBO World Heavyweight Title
Promoter: Universum Box-Promotion
Tv: Sat 1 & Sky Sports
Chris Byrd
(
31
-
1
-
0
)
Weight: 213½ lbs
Wladimir Klitschko
(
34
-
1
-
0
)
Weight: 238 lbs
On October 14, 2000, in a much-anticipated heavyweight clash, Wladimir Klitschko squared off against Chris Byrd for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Heavyweight Championship at Kolnarena, Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. The bout, dubbed "Die Rache des Bruders" or "Revenge Of The Brother," saw Klitschko stepping into the ring to avenge his elder brother, Vitali Klitschko's defeat to Byrd earlier that year.
Chris Byrd came into the fight off the back of a career-defining victory over Vitali Klitschko, having captured the WBO heavyweight title. In a dramatic twist of events during that fight, Vitali had to retire due to a torn rotator cuff, handing Byrd the championship via a ninth-round TKO. The victory over Vitali set the stage for a showdown with Wladimir, who had been on a redemption arc of his own, stringing together ten consecutive wins after a surprising loss to Ross Puritty in 1998.
The fight was prominently featured on pay-per-view channels, including Sat.1 in Germany and Sky Box Office PPV in the United Kingdom, underscoring its significance and drawing attention from boxing fans worldwide.
Throughout the twelve rounds, Wladimir Klitschko demonstrated his boxing prowess and power by controlling the pace and flow of the bout. His strategy and skill set were on full display as he knocked Byrd down twice, first in the ninth round and again in the eleventh round. These knockdowns were pivotal moments that underscored Klitschko's dominance throughout the match.
When the final bell rang, the scorecards reflected Klitschko's superior performance. The judges scored the fight 120-106, 119-107, and 118-108, all in favour of Klitschko. This unanimous decision victory awarded Wladimir Klitschko the WBO Heavyweight Championship, marking the beginning of his first world title reign.
The aftermath of the fight set both boxers on different paths. Wladimir Klitschko, now a world champion, went on to defend his title six times before a surprising loss to Corrie Sanders in March 2003, which served as a critical learning experience in his storied career. Undeterred by the loss, Chris Byrd bounced back to secure four consecutive victories, including wins over Maurice Harris and David Tua in an IBF heavyweight title "eliminator" mini-tournament. This winning streak propelled him into contention for the IBF Heavyweight Championship, a title he would compete for against Evander Holyfield after Lennox Lewis vacated the belt.