February 2024 UBO Boxer Of The Month: Jaye Byard

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MARCH 1, 2024 / BY BY UBO PRESS OFFICER

Byard won the UBO title on February 3, when he stopped the favoured undefeated, almost fifteen years younger, Benjamin Alvarez in six rounds in Enoch, Alberta.

The 42-year-old Southpaw from Surrey in British Colombia, has an incredible story, and deserves credit for much more than just becoming UBO champion.

Byard turned professional in 2019, following release from prison after doing almost twenty-years of a life-sentence for murder.

He turned his life around with his faith and determination, and decided to give professional boxing a go at thirty-eight years of age, making his paid debut in November of 2019.

It was not an easy start for Byard, who lost his first four pro bouts. It looked as if he had made a mistake, thinking he could be a successful fighter at that stage of his life.

But he didn't give up, and very unusually decided to train himself instead of having a coach. Since then he has not lost, and stopped seven straight opponents inside the distance.

Along with the UBO Continental (North America) title, Byard also captured the Canadian Heavyweight crown against Alvarez, as the oldest man to ever do it, taking over from the iconic George Chuvalo who did it at 39 in 1977.

Byard´s next goal is to break another record by becoming the oldest Heavyweight world champion in history, a record currently held by George Foreman (45).

It may sound far-fetched to most, but so did many of the things Byard has already accomplished. Write him off at your peril…