After dropping 40 pounds, former heavyweight champion Chris Byrd (40-5-1, 21 KOs) looked drained and slow as he was brutally kayoed in round nine by Shaun George (17-2-2, 8 KOs) in a light heavyweight bout on Friday night at the Cox Pavilion, which is connected to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Coming into the fight at 174 lbs., Byrd was dropped by George in round one and rocked again in round two. It was a sign of things to come as George pretty much hammered Byrd with his right hand at will, finally flooring Byrd twice in the ninth. Byrd beat the count after the first knockdown, but was then battered down again and the bout was waved off by referee Jay Nady at 2:45. At the time of the stoppage, George was ahead 79-72 on all cards. The result was a bitter disappointment for Byrd, who had hoped to make some noise in the 175lb division. The 37-year-old has now lost three of his last four. He left the ring without commenting on the possibility of retirement.