Tracy Byrd (boxer)

Tracy Michelle Byrd (born August 27, 1964, Flint, Michigan[1]) is an American female boxer.[2]

For the country singer, see Tracy Byrd (singer).
Tracy Byrd
Statistics
Real nameTracy Michelle Byrd
Nickname(s)The Lady[1]
Weight(s)Super bantamweight Lightweight
Height5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
NationalityAmerican
Born (1964-08-27) August 27, 1964
Flint, Michigan, United States
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights24
Wins13
Wins by KO4
Losses10
Draws1

Early life

Byrd comes from a boxing family: her father, Joe Byrd, is a former boxer who currently trains 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
  • 2001 IFBA Intercontinental Super Featherweight Title[3]
  • 1998 IWBF Lightweight Title[3]
  • 1997 IFBA Lightweight Title (1 defense)[3]

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
24 fights 13 wins 10 losses
By knockout 4 1
By decision 9 9
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
24 Loss Laura Serrano RTD 2006-04-01 Sky Ute Casino, Ignacio, Colorado, USA
23 Loss Valanna McGee UD 2005-08-26 Radisson Hotel, Sacramento, California, USA
22 Loss Kara Ro UD 2005-02-18 State Fair Grounds, Detroit, Michigan, USA
21 Draw Belinda Laracuente PTS 2003-06-28 Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek, Florida, USA
20 Win Agnieszka Rylik SD 2003-03-22 Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
19 Loss Layla McCarter SD 2003-03-07 City Center Pavilion, Reno, Nevada, USA
18 Loss Layla McCarter MD 2003-02-15 Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
17 Loss Zulfia Kutdyusova UD 2002-04-26 Ramada Hotel O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois, USA
16 Loss Isra Girgrah SD 2002-02-28 Wyndham Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
15 Loss Layla McCarter UD 2001-07-07 Sky Ute Casino, Ignacio, Colorado, USA International Female Boxers Association World featherweight title
14 Win Brenda Vickers UD 2001-05-19 Sky Ute Casino, Ignacio, Colorado, USA
13 Loss Laura Serrano UD 1999-09-02 Gold Strike Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, USA
12 Win Carla Witherspoon UD 1999-07-31 IMA Sports Arena, Flint, Michigan, USA
11 Win Vicki Woods UD 1999-03-11 Gold Strike Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, USA
10 Win Corrine Geeris UD 1998-11-13 Jackpot Junction Casino, Morton, Minnesota, USA vacant International Women's Boxing Federation World lightweight title
9 Loss Zulfia Kutdyusova UD 1998-06-30 Lady Luck Casino, Lula, Mississippi, USA International Female Boxers Association World lightweight title
8 Win Bethany Payne KO 1997-10-24 Lady Luck Casino, Lula, Mississippi, USA International Female Boxers Association World lightweight title
7 Win Nora Daigle UD 1997-08-02 Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, USA International Female Boxers Association World lightweight title
6 Win Dee Dufoe UD 1997-05-17 Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, USA
5 Win Vicki Woods TKO 1997-03-18 IMA Sports Arena, Flint, Michigan, USA
4 Win Sue Chase UD 1997-01-28 The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA
3 Win Shannon Williams TKO 1996-10-19 Dearborn, Michigan, USA
2 Win Kathleen Ridell TKO 1996-10-08 IMA Sports Arena, Flint, Michigan, USA
1 Win Sue Chase PTS 1996-08-06 IMA Sports Arena, Flint, Michigan, USA

See also

References
  1. "Tracy Byrd". BoxRec. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  2. Smith, Malissa (2014). A History of Women's Boxing. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 229. ISBN 9781442229952. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  3. "Tracy Byrd Awakening Profile". Awakeningfighters.com. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
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