Two-time World Heavyweight Champion Chris Byrd is back in the ring after a prolonged series of health challenges. Following his Hall of Fame worthy career at heavyweight, which included wins over Vitali Klitschko, Evander Holyfield, and David Tua, Byrd (47-5, 22 KOs) suffered from severe neuropathy and chronic pain from fighting far above his natural weight.

“Nobody wanted to fight me at middleweight, so I ate my weight up to heavyweight, And I paid for it. I went through 11 years of suffering. A few years ago, I couldn’t even move my feet apart. The pain in my left leg was so bad that some days I just wanted to cut the whole thing off. I had to make drastic changes and choices in life to get where I am today,” said Byrd. 

Looking chiseled and svelte at 163 pounds, the 50-year-old Byrd’s transformation began nearly three years ago when his daughter was engaged to be married. The idea of being unable to walk her down the aisle pained Byrd, as he was willing to do or try anything that could help improve his condition, and let him be there for the ones he loved. He changed his eating habits – stopped consuming all those things that he was allergic to (wheat, sugar, and dairy) and switched to a plant-based diet.  

A chance meeting with a medicinal cannabis expert proved particularly fruitful in Byrd’s road to recovery. Byrd began a therapeutic regimen of juicing fresh cannabis leaves and utilizing CBD oil and topicals. He consumed ample hemp hearts as a complete source of protein and essential fatty acids. In short order, the ferocious pain he had felt in his left leg and the fatigue that he had battled his entire career began to subside.

By early 2020, Chris had reached a plateau in his recovery “at about ? of where [he is] today.” He then discovered Aaron Cameron, Director of Club Q360, in Malibu, California. Cameron is widely known as the husband of film star and “Real Housewife of Beverly Hills”, Denise Richards. Under Cameron’s guidance, Chris began undergoing radio and sound frequency treatments to treat his neuropathy. According to Byrd, these treatments took his healing to a level – relieving his pain and greatly increasing his mobility.

“Aaron is a fantastic person, unique with a great mind who is an expert in radio and sound frequency work. Doctor’s had told me I would need my shoulders and hip replaced. After my treatments with Aaron, all of that changed. Aaron really wants to see people get healed and he really cares for the people he works with.”

“Chris’ recovery has been nothing short of miraculous,” said Split-T Boxing’s David McWater. “To see where Chris was only a few years ago to where he is now is remarkable. It’s an honor to be able to help him on this path.”

Considering all that he has accomplished in both his professional career and in his dramatic post-career transformation from struggling heavyweight to vibrant and virile middleweight, there is nothing that can stop Chris Byrd.

“I really want to show people that it’s never too late to accomplish your goals, and live out your dreams. My reflexes are razor sharp, my strength is phenomenal, and I’m more focused than I’ve been. I feel I’m ready to make a return to the ring, and with the help and guidance of Split-T Boxing, I hope to make it a reality.

Promoter Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing talks about the PPV battle between David Tua and Monte Barrett

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In what was one of the more exciting Heavyweight clashed, Monte Barrett and David Tua fought to a spirited draw in a twelve round Heavyweight bout of former Heavyweight title challeng at The Topicana Hotel and Resort in Atlantic City.

Round two heated up with both guys looking to land hard shots. In round three, Barrett got in a nice counter right and Tua started to breathe heavy from his wild attempta to end the bout with one punch. Barrett continued to stand up to the heavy assault. In the sixth, Tua began the round by landing a thudding right to the body. Barrett landed his punch over the first half of the fight with a crisp over hand right. Tua culminated the frame with a hard left hook along the ropes.

In round nine, Tua came out by landing a vicious three punch combination that had Barrett holding on. Later in the round, Tua came back to land two more explosive rights with the first coming to the body and the latter coming at the end of the round with a flush right on the face. The fight turned in round ten as Barrett started to back up Tua and landed some hard flush shits and even rocking Tua with a big over hand right. Tua rebounded nicely in round eleven as he landed a booming left hook on the ropes that would have put just about anyone down but somehow Barrett stood up to that as well another big left hook late in the round. The last round was a big round for Barrett as he took a big shot early in the round and then was thrown down to canvas by Tua and referee Randy Neumann took a point away from Tua. that lit a fire under Barrett as he landed a flush uppercut that sent Tua down the canvas for the first time in his fifty-six fight career. Tua barely made it to the finish line as Barrett jabbed his way to the bell.

Scores were 115-111 for Tua, while two other judges ruled 113-113 (same as 15rounds.com card) Tua of Auckland, NZ is now 51-3-2. Barrett of Queens, NY is now 34-9-1

Welterweight prospect Raymond “Tito” Serrano scored an eight round majority decision over Ayi Bruce in a nip and tuck battle. Serrano did well by boxing early and then the tough fighter from Ghana came on by making the tussle a dogfight and started getting through with good combinations. Serrano may have sealed the fight with a good eighth round as he landed some good combinations on the ropes. Serrano, 145 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 77-76, 78-74 and 76-76 to remain undefeated at 13-0. Bruce, 144 lbs of Accra, Ghana is now 6-3.

In a big upset, perennial spoiler Carlos Vinan scored an eighth round stoppage over IBF #2 Lightweight, Anthony Mezaache in the final round of their Lightweight bout. Mezaache controlled the action by jabbing and moving asnd built ip a lead on the cards. Vinan came out top start round eight like a house of fire and was all over Mezaache and dropped with a furious combination. Vinan ended the fight by jumping on Mezaache and his corner threw in the yowel at thity-seven seconds of round eight. Vinan of Newark, Nj is now 10-8-4 with two knockouts. Mezaache of Clichy, France is now 18-6-3.

In a bit of a upset, undefeated Bayan Jargal had to settle for an eight round draw with James Hope in a Jr. Welterweight bout. Hope landed the cleaner blows while Jargal tried to box more until the later round where he rushed in more and by agression may have won rounds to earn the dubious draw that was scored 76-76 on all cards. Jargal, 138 lbs of Arlinton, VA is now 15-0-3. Hope, 137 1/2 lbs of Rock Hill,SC is now 6-5-1.

In a wild slugfest, Khedafi Djelkhir scored a first round stoppage over Jorge Cordero in a Featherweight bout scheduled for six round. Djekhir dropped Cordero early in the first from a big left hand. Just as soon as Djelkhir thought he had it in the bag, Crodero landed a huge right hook dropped Djelkhir. Djelkhir gathered himself to land a huge right that dropped Cordero into the bottom rope. Cordero got to his fight but stumbled all over the place which prompted the referee to stop the fight at 2:20 0f round one. Djelkhir, 126 lbs of Besancon, France is now 7-0 with six knockouts. Cordero, 126 lbs of San Juan, Pr is now 4-3.

Jason Escalera scored a stoppage over Amador Acevedo at the end of round three in a scheduled six round Light Heavyweight bout. Escalera controlled the action over the first three rounds especially working the body of Acevedo. Acevedo put up one last stand in the third but Escalera’s offense was too much as Acevedo failed to answer the bell for round. Escalera, 173 lbs of Union City, NJ is now 9-0 with eight knockouts. Acevedo, 177 lbs of Moca, Puerto Rico is 3-8-1

Young Prospect Mike Perez scored an explosive first round stoppage over Jorge Ruiz in Lightweight bout schedule for six rounds. Midway through the round Perez dropped Ruiz with a left to the body. Ruiz got to his feet at the count of eight only to each a big right that was followed by a massive left hook. Referee David Francioci began to count but stopped at six as Ruiz had no shot to beat the count. The time was 2:29 of round one for Perez, 135 lbs of Jersey City, NJ and is now 9-0 with four knockouts. Ruiz, 137 lbs of Miami is now 7-13-1.

Photo By Claudia Bocanegra

15rounds.com Claudia Bocanegra was at The Palm in midtown Manhattan for the final press conference for the Heavyweight showdown pitting David Tua against Monte Barrett that will take place this Saturday night in Atlantic City.