Chris Byrd fought at 165 for the USA at the '92 Olympics. I believe he won a silver medal but don't quote me on that. He didn't think he could make 168 comfortably and recognizing there was no money at 175 or 190 (at the time) he planned to go straight up to heavyweight . I also wonderd how he would have done at 175 or 190 rather than his huge jump to heavyeeight.
He'd have basically just ruled over a bunch of nobodies. Jones or Hill would eventually come along and take his title anyway.
Do you mean effectively? His last fight was at 175 and he got wrecked even after talking about feeling so much better.
Yes. He could "make it" and he was undoubtedly far far healthier in addition to being completely unsuited for prizefighting. But he could not functionally make 175 as a boxer. The man was always a heavyweight, just a small one. He straddled the line in time when guys went from 6'2" 215 being a bit small to being decidedly undersized.
Chris Byrds family showing up and screaming "instructions" at a dying battered Chris would have ruined all those good 175 lb matchups. Moorer would have been unimpressed with these shenanigans. Better he stayed at 200+
