Tracy Michelle Byrd (born August 27, 1964, Flint, Michigan) is an American female boxer. She was inducted into the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame in 2022.
Early life Byrd comes from a boxing family: her father, Joe Byrd, is a former boxer who trained 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 (the fight was held in Indio, California), 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 (tied) 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 2001 IFBA Intercontinental Super Featherweight Title 1998 IWBF Lightweight Title 1997 IFBA Lightweight Title (1 defense)
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes24Loss Laura SerranoRTD2006-04-01Sky Ute Casino, Ignacio, Colorado, US23Loss Valanna McGeeUD2005-08-26Radisson Hotel, Sacramento, California, US22Loss Kara RoUD2005-02-18State Fair Grounds, Detroit, Michigan, US21Draw Belinda LaracuentePTS2003-06-28Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek, Florida, US20Win Agnieszka RylikSD2003-03-22Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, US19Loss Layla McCarterSD2003-03-07City Center Pavilion, Reno, Nevada, US18Loss Layla McCarterMD2003-02-15Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, US17Loss Zulfia KutdyusovaUD2002-04-26Ramada Hotel O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois, US16Loss Isra GirgrahSD2002-02-28Wyndham Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland, US15Loss Layla McCarterUD2001-07-07Sky Ute Casino, Ignacio, Colorado, USInternational Female Boxers Association World featherweight title14Win Brenda VickersUD2001-05-19Sky Ute Casino, Ignacio, Colorado, US13Loss Laura SerranoUD1999-09-02Gold Strike Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, US12Win Carla WitherspoonUD1999-07-31IMA Sports Arena, Flint, Michigan, US11Win Vicki WoodsUD1999-03-11Gold Strike Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, US10WinCorrine GeerisUD1998-11-13Jackpot Junction Casino, Morton, Minnesota, USvacant International Women's Boxing Federation World lightweight title9LossZulfia KutdyusovaUD1998-06-30Lady Luck Casino, Lula, Mississippi, USInternational Female Boxers Association World lightweight title8WinBethany PayneKO1997-10-24Lady Luck Casino, Lula, Mississippi, USInternational Female Boxers Association World lightweight title7WinNora DaigleUD1997-08-02Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, USInternational Female Boxers Association World lightweight title6WinDee DufoeUD1997-05-17Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, US5WinVicki WoodsTKO1997-03-18IMA Sports Arena, Flint, Michigan, US4WinSue ChaseUD1997-01-28The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, US3WinShannon WilliamsTKO1996-10-19Dearborn, Michigan, US2WinKathleen RidellTKO1996-10-08IMA Sports Arena, Flint, Michigan, US1WinSue ChasePTS1996-08-06IMA Sports Arena, Flint, Michigan, US
See also List of female boxers
References
External links Tracy Byrd at Awakening Fighters