Footage has emerged of a long-faded 55-year-old Chris Byrd getting knocked out in Zambia last weekend.The two-time world heavyweight champion hung up his gloves in 2009 after a fruitful 41-5-1 career that included victories over Evander Holyfield, David Tua and Vitali Klitschko.Byrd was an excellent fighter in his heyday, but that was over 20 years agoGettyHe even closed out his career on a high with a win on a small hall show in Germany.Yet, sadly, in an all-too-familiar story in boxing, Byrd was enticed back into the ring decades past his prime.The Flint Native had teased a comeback in the early 2020s after shedding over 40lbs.Floating around the idea at the time, he said: “I want to show people that it’s never too late to accomplish your goals and live out your dreams.“My reflexes are razor-sharp; my strength is phenomenal. I’m more focused than I’ve been.“I feel I’m ready to make a return to the ring…“What am I known for? Slickness, speed and reflexes.“It’s still there. I’m telling you. At 50 years old, look at my body. It’s on.“Who is going to hang with the old man? Nobody can hang with the old man. I got energy all day.”The story of the fight For a time, it looked as though Byrd had given up on the dangerous idea.View Tweet: https://t.co/2vhlq6yEgFHowever, on June 27, he returned to the ring for a super-middleweight bout against a man 27 years his junior in unheralded club fighter Anthony Welsh (3-1).Byrd looked like a shell of his former self, completely devoid of the speed and reflexes that made him a force to be reckoned with in the early 2000s.The ageing boxing legend was dropped early in the first round and spent the majority of the short-lived fight covered up against the ropes, absorbing unanswered blows. Eventually, the referee came to his senses and waved off the gross mismatch in the dying embers of the opening stanza.Another sad day for boxing.Watch Boxing on DAZN*If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenueSign up to DAZN to access the definitive subscription for boxing fans.Upgrade to DAZN Ultimate from just £24.99/month, guaranteeing access to 185+ fights annually, a minimum of 12 pay-per-views at no extra cost, as well as every Lega Serie A match and other elite football access.Alternatively, DAZN Standard is just £15.99/month, with the caveat you will have to pay for pay-per-view events.Click here to sign up.