Tracy Byrd (boxer) explained

Tracy Byrd
Realname:Tracy Michelle Byrd
Nickname:The Lady[1]
Weight:Super bantamweight Lightweight
Height:5 ft 4 in
Birth Date:August 27, 1964
Birth Place:Flint, Michigan, United States
Style:Orthodox
Total:24
Wins:13
Ko:4
Losses:10
Draws:1

Tracy Michelle Byrd (born August 27, 1964, Flint, Michigan) is an American female boxer.[2]

Early life

Byrd comes from a boxing family: her father, Joe Byrd, is a former boxer who trained her.

Her brother Antoine once lost to Roy Jones Jr. in a bid to win the world's Middleweight title, and her other brother, Chris, is a former heavyweight title holder.

Tracy Byrd enjoyed athletics since she was a young child. She excelled in high school as a basketball player. Her brothers Antoine and Chris, however, inspired her into trying out boxing, so she began to attend the Byrd boxing gym, owned by her father.

Professional career

On her first professional fight, August 6, 1996, the then 32-year-old boxer beat Sue Chase by a decision in four rounds in Flint. Her first three fights were held in Flint, and she earned first round knockouts in professional fights number two and three.

Her fourth fight, a rematch with Chase on January 28, 1997, took place just outside Flint, in Detroit. Byrd again outpointed Chase over four rounds.

After beating Dee Dufoe by decision in six in what turned out to be her first fight held outside Michigan (the fight was held in Indio, California), Byrd was given the opportunity to challenge for a world championship for the first time: On August 2, 1997, she defeated defending champion Nora Daigle to become the IFBA world Lightweight champion, in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Byrd retained the title on October 24 with a fourth-round knockout of Bethanny Payne in New Jersey. After this fight, and since Byrd continued undefeated in nine fights, Byrd was given some attention by boxing magazines such as The Ring and KO. But, on her second defense, held on June 30, 1998, she lost her title, and her undefeated mark, to Russian Zulfia Koutdoussova, who, as a consequence, inherited the media attention that Byrd was receiving.

Byrd rebounded with three consecutive decision wins, and she was given a second chance at becoming a world champion, when she met Laura Serrano of Mexico on September 2, 1999. She lost by a ten-round decision in Tunica, Mississippi, for the WIBF's world Lightweight title.

Byrd then took off two years from boxing, deciding to lose weight and return as a Junior Lightweight in 2001. Initially, she had success fighting at a lower weight class, conquering the vacant IFBA intercontinental title with a ten-round unanimous decision over Brenda Vickers on May 19, at Ignacio, Colorado.

Her next fight was for the IFBA world Featherweight title, on July 7. She lost that world championship bid, being outpointed over ten rounds by Layla McCarter. This was the beginning of a five fight losing streak for Byrd. All those fights were lost by decision, and they included two more losses to McCarter, another loss to Koutdoussova, and a defeat at the hands of Isra Girgrah.

Despite losing five times in a row, she was given yet another world title chance, when, on March 22, 2003, she faced Agnieszka Rylik for the WIBO world Jr. Welterweight title. Byrd became a world champion for the second time, when she defeated Rylik by a ten-round split decision in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Her next, and so far last, fight, took place on June 28 of that year, when she and Puerto Rico's Belinda Laracuente drew (tied) in an eight rounds non-title bout held at Coconut Grove, Florida.

Byrd has a record of thirteen wins, seven losses and one draw, with four wins by knockout, she has not been knocked out as a professional.

Championships and accomplishments

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
24Loss Laura SerranoRTD2006-04-01Sky Ute Casino, Ignacio, Colorado, US
23Loss Valanna McGeeUD2005-08-26Radisson Hotel, Sacramento, California, US
22Loss Kara RoUD2005-02-18State Fair Grounds, Detroit, Michigan, US
21Draw Belinda LaracuentePTS2003-06-28Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek, Florida, US
20Win Agnieszka RylikSD2003-03-22Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
19Loss Layla McCarterSD2003-03-07City Center Pavilion, Reno, Nevada, US
18Loss Layla McCarterMD2003-02-15Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
17Loss Zulfia KutdyusovaUD2002-04-26Ramada Hotel O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois, US
16Loss Isra GirgrahSD2002-02-28Wyndham Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland, US
15Loss Layla McCarterUD2001-07-07Sky Ute Casino, Ignacio, Colorado, USInternational Female Boxers Association World featherweight title
14Win Brenda VickersUD2001-05-19Sky Ute Casino, Ignacio, Colorado, US
13Loss Laura SerranoUD1999-09-02Gold Strike Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, US
12Win Carla WitherspoonUD1999-07-31IMA Sports Arena, Flint, Michigan, US
11Win Vicki WoodsUD1999-03-11Gold Strike Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, US
10WinCorrine GeerisUD1998-11-13Jackpot Junction Casino, Morton, Minnesota, USvacant International Women's Boxing Federation World lightweight title
9LossZulfia KutdyusovaUD1998-06-30Lady Luck Casino, Lula, Mississippi, USInternational Female Boxers Association World lightweight title
8WinBethany PayneKO1997-10-24Lady Luck Casino, Lula, Mississippi, USInternational Female Boxers Association World lightweight title
7WinNora DaigleUD1997-08-02Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, USInternational Female Boxers Association World lightweight title
6WinDee DufoeUD1997-05-17Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, US
5WinVicki WoodsTKO1997-03-18IMA Sports Arena, Flint, Michigan, US
4WinSue ChaseUD1997-01-28The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, US
3WinShannon WilliamsTKO1996-10-19Dearborn, Michigan, US
2WinKathleen RidellTKO1996-10-08IMA Sports Arena, Flint, Michigan, US
1WinSue ChasePTS1996-08-06IMA Sports Arena, Flint, Michigan, US

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tracy Byrd. BoxRec. 9 February 2016.
  2. Book: Smith. Malissa. A History of Women's Boxing. 2014. Rowman & Littlefield. 9781442229952. 229. 9 February 2016.
  3. Web site: Tracy Byrd Awakening Profile. Awakeningfighters.com. 2016-02-19.