Tracy Byrd (boxer)


Tracy Byrd is an American female boxer.

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, 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 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

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
24Loss Laura SerranoRTD2006-04-01Sky Ute Casino, Ignacio, Colorado, USA
23Loss Valanna McGeeUD2005-08-26Radisson Hotel, Sacramento, California, USA
22Loss Kara RoUD2005-02-18State Fair Grounds, Detroit, Michigan, USA
21Draw Belinda LaracuentePTS2003-06-28Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek, Florida, USA
20Win Agnieszka RylikSD2003-03-22Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
19Loss Layla McCarterSD2003-03-07City Center Pavilion, Reno, Nevada, USA
18Loss Layla McCarterMD2003-02-15Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
17Loss Zulfia KutdyusovaUD2002-04-26Ramada Hotel O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois, USA
16Loss Isra GirgrahSD2002-02-28Wyndham Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
15Loss Layla McCarterUD2001-07-07Sky Ute Casino, Ignacio, Colorado, USAInternational Female Boxers Association World featherweight title
14Win Brenda VickersUD2001-05-19Sky Ute Casino, Ignacio, Colorado, USA
13Loss Laura SerranoUD1999-09-02Gold Strike Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, USA
12Win Carla WitherspoonUD1999-07-31IMA Sports Arena, Flint, Michigan, USA
11Win Vicki WoodsUD1999-03-11Gold Strike Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, USA
10WinCorrine GeerisUD1998-11-13Jackpot Junction Casino, Morton, Minnesota, USAvacant International Women's Boxing Federation World lightweight title
9LossZulfia KutdyusovaUD1998-06-30Lady Luck Casino, Lula, Mississippi, USAInternational Female Boxers Association World lightweight title
8WinBethany PayneKO1997-10-24Lady Luck Casino, Lula, Mississippi, USAInternational Female Boxers Association World lightweight title
7WinNora DaigleUD1997-08-02Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, USAInternational Female Boxers Association World lightweight title
6WinDee DufoeUD1997-05-17Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, USA
5WinVicki WoodsTKO1997-03-18IMA Sports Arena, Flint, Michigan, USA
4WinSue ChaseUD1997-01-28The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA
3WinShannon WilliamsTKO1996-10-19Dearborn, Michigan, USA
2WinKathleen RidellTKO1996-10-08IMA Sports Arena, Flint, Michigan, USA
1WinSue ChasePTS1996-08-06IMA Sports Arena, Flint, Michigan, USA