Chris Cornelius Byrd is a 6'0 tall southpaw boxer who won the IBF Heavyweight championship by defeating Evander Holyfield on December 14, 2002 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. They were fighting for a portion of the Heavyweight championship that Lennox Lewis had reliquished in exchange for a million dollars from promoter Don King.

Chris Byrd won the silver medal in 1992 at the Barcelona Olympics in the Middleweight division, losing against Sven Ottke of Germany in the final. He moved up in weight to fight professionally as a Heavyweight 3 fights into his professional career.

As a result of his not being a natural Heavyweight, he lacks great punching power. This has lead many to deem his technical style of fighting (more dependant on speed and agility than brute strength and power) too boring for the Heavyweight division. Regardless, as of 2005, he has managed to retain the IBF title after 3 defenses.

His professional ring record as of 2005 is 38 wins (20 knockouts), 2 loses, and 1 draw in 41 contests. His hometown is Flint, MI, but he fights out of Las Vegas, NV. His date of birth is August 15, 1970. He is married and has 3 children.