Former IBF and WBO world heavyweight champion Chris Byrd has made a surprising statement after weighing up Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder.
The American boxer had a 16-year professional career and stood toe-to-toe with the likes of Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, Ike Ibeabuchi, David Tua, Evander Holyfield, Andrew Golota and Alexander Povetkin.
The former Olympic silver medalist was famed for being an intelligent boxer using defense and southpaw skills to diffuse bigger men and bigger punchers.
He has now weighed in on the potential match up between Joshua and Wilder and had a surprising admission to make
When asked who he would rather match up against, Byrd told Boxing News: “Oh, man, that’s easy – Anthony Joshua. For my style, he would have been my choice.
"The rangy guys like Vitali and Wladimir are hard to fight. I know Joshua is big and rangy in his own sort of way – for a small guy like me – but his style is different.
"He doesn’t know how to use his size all that well. He’s six-six and a great athlete. He reminds me of Jameel (McCline) in a way. In a way.”
Byrd then believes he would have an easier time against Joshua in the ring, a statement that might make the Brit think carefully about how he matches up against Wilder.
The unification bout between Joshua and Wilder is one of the most keenly anticipated heavyweight fights of recent times, but the negotiations between the two teams seem to be a long way from reaching agreement.
One of the biggest stumbling blocks between the two was the location of the fight, with each fighter keen to make sure the bout took place on 'home turf'. Eddie Hearn recently revealed to Sky Sports that he believes that Wilder's team are becoming more agreeable about a UK-based fight.
The decision on an offer is expected to be made this week among reports that Wilder is being offered a paltry 10 percent of the fight purse.