I can't let the big boys just punk me out. I'm not a coward. You're not going to run over me. I'm ready to thump. I can trade with anybody. Certain styles bring out certain things in me. Jameel (McCline) and I are close friends and we threw down, so I think this fight will be a good one. IBF Champion Chris Byrd

IBF Heavyweight Champion Chris Byrd, 38-2-1 (20), and challenger DaVarryl Williamson, 22-3 (18), got together for a conference today to discuss their upcoming IBF Championship fight on October 1 at the brand new Events Center in Reno, Nevada.

Friends outside the ring, the two heavies agree it'll be "strictly business" when they tangle for Byrd's belt on the undercard of the James Toney vs. Dominick Guinn crossroads battle.

Some would say Byrd has been showing signs of slipping in his previous two or three fights. After receiving highly controversial decisions over Fres Oquendo and Andrew Golota, in his last appearance, Byrd was forced to eke out a razor thin decision over Jameel McCline last November. Once a nearly impossible target for most to hit, Byrd was knocked down against McCline and had to stage a furious rally over the second half of the fight to secure the one-point victory.

Left for dead after suffering an embarrassing HBO-televised first-round knockout at the hands of "Baby" Joe Mesi, Williamson and his team have methodically rebuilt the 37 year old's career to the point that he is now challenging for one the most important titles in boxing.

Since Mesi, Williamson has beaten useful Kendrick Releford, former champion Oliver McCall, then NABF champ Eliecer Castillo and former contender Derrick Jefferson.

However, the true redemption for Williamson came against ex-WBO king Wladimir Klitschko in October of last year. Williamson dropped Klitschko and looked to have an excellent chance of coming on strong in the second half of the fight before a cut eye suffered by the big Ukrainian brought an early ending.

Although Klitschko was ahead at the time of the stoppage (and won a technical decision in five), it was Williamson who gained the most by proving he belonged among the division's best.

Clearly the two men like each other and hope their friendship will survive what they say will be a "very competitive" match-up.

Talk about your friendship and how you two met.

Byrd: My relationship with DaVarryl started when I was getting ready to fight Maurice Harris and he came and sparred with me. It blossomed from there. We're friends and we call each other periodically and we know each other's families. But we always knew we would have to fight each other eventually. We're friends, but for me, it's just competition. We know what's at stake here: the heavyweight title. This will be a great fight, not from hate, but from competition. You don't need to hate someone to compete with them. I used to try and kill my brother when we used to spar and I don't hate him. You have to embrace him and say "may the best man win."

Williamson: Chris and Tracy and my wife, Shalifa, sat together for my last fight against Derrick Jefferson. But we understand this is business. It's a huge opportunity for me and my family. It's just business; I don't have a problem with taking this fight at all. We both want to win. It's going to be a very intriguing fight for both of us. I've worked very hard for many years. I am up for the challenge and excited. I'm ready. It'll be the toughest fight I've ever been in. He knows that it's going to be a barn burner. And then a month, a couple months from now, hopefully we'll be able to reconvene and have dinner.

Chris, why didn't you go to Germany to fight Wladimir Klitschko when it was offered?
I wasn't going to go to Germany and just hand the Germans my belt! Don King was saying how he would pick the judges and everything over there, but I didn't believe him. I would have fought him here, but not in Germany.

What would you say to Lamon Brewster (Brewster is scheduled to defend his WBO Championship against Germany's Luan Krasniqi at the Color Line Arena in Hamburg, Germany on September 28)?
All I can tell him is knock him out. There's no US TV and you're fighting on Max Schmeling's birthday? All I can do is wish him well.

DaVarryl, has Klitschko ever offered you a rematch?
Hell no, he doesn't want to fight me again. He didn't look like the winner (in our fight). He got a 'Get out of Jail Free' card in Vegas. Team Klitschko is not about boxing. They're about money. They're not here to fight anybody. They know they can make money by handpicking their opponents. But their hands are tied behind their backs with Samuel Peter. It's going to be a risky fight for Wladimir.

Chris, James Toney's people say they're trying to make a fight with you, have you been contacted by them about a fight?
James Toney is running scared. He's got the biggest mouth in boxing, but he has no heart. They're lying. Please. He's been running scared. He could have fought me when he fought John Ruiz. We thought we were negotiating for a fight and suddenly he's fighting Dominick Guinn. I don't care. He talks a lot of trash. I just want to box. He keeps bringing my name up, but he doesn't want to sign a contract. He knows I want the fight. I don't know if he knows his people are playing games behind his back, but they're sure running scared. This time they said they need a tune-up before they fight me. I haven't fought since November, who needs a tune-up?

DaVarryl, are you happy to be getting this opportunity?
I'm very appreciative to be here. I'm kicking and screaming, are you kidding me? I got stretched against Joe Mesi. Joe Mesi is not that good, ok? I know he's not, but it did happen. I just feel that with me and my career, we kept the faith. We took risky fights but we felt like we could win those fights. Crazy Oliver McCall, Wladimir Klitschko, Eliecer Castillo. We connected the dots to get here and we had a little luck and a little bit of good timing with Hasim Rahman and Monte Barrett going over to the WBC instead of fighting Chris. I couldn't be happier to have this opportunity. I have no idea how things will happen in the fight, but I'm glad to be here and I'm looking forward to it.