Joe Byrd, now reunited with his wife, Rose, after 10 years, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 75.
Joe “Joe Willie” Byrd was a legendary figure in Michigan boxing, both as a fierce competitor and a revered coach.
He boxed from 1957 and became a three-time Flint City Golden Gloves champ (1958, 1960–61).
Additionally, he won Michigan’s heavyweight Golden Gloves state title in 1962.
In 1988, Byrd officially retired from his job at the Chevrolet V-8 Engine Plant and devoted himself full-time to coaching.
He continued to train young fighters at the Joe Byrd Boxing Academy, where he remained active well into his later years.
Tragically, Byrd passed away peacefully on Monday, June 24, 2025, at the age of 89, surrounded by his family and loved ones.
While the exact cause of death hasn’t been publicly disclosed, reports indicate it was due to natural causes related to age.
Joe Byrd’s Wife Was A Coach And Secretary At The Joe Byrd Boxing Academy!
Joe Byrd Sr. was married to Rose Lena Byrd, likely in the early 1960s, after Rose moved to Flint, Michigan, following her graduation from Booker T. Washington High School in Oklahoma.
Their partnership, both in life and in boxing, spanned over five decades.
They met in Flint, where Rose initially assisted Joe with his training as he prepared for professional matches.
That collaboration blossomed into a lifelong bond, both as husband and wife and as coaching partners.
Born on January 29, 1940, in Boynton, Oklahoma, Rose was raised in Haskell after the early death of her mother.
Professionally, Rose broke barriers as one of the first licensed female boxing coaches in the United States.
She began coaching in the 1960s and ’70s, a time when it was rare for women to be involved in the sport.
She worked alongside her husband, training their children and countless other young athletes.
Rose served as a team manager for national tournaments and held leadership roles in the Michigan Amateur Boxing Association.
Tragically, she passed away on June 16, 2015, at the age of 75.
Joe And Rose Together Raised A Large And Accomplished Family!
They had eight children, five sons and three daughters, many of whom followed in their parents’ footsteps in sports, particularly in boxing.
Their youngest son, Chris Byrd, became the most internationally known.
He rose to fame as a two-time heavyweight world champion (IBF and WBO) after training in the family gym from the age of five.
Joe Jr., another son, was a multi-sport athlete and an accomplished amateur boxer during the 1970s and ’80s.
Likewise, Ronnie Byrd gained recognition with 87 amateur wins and was so respected in his hometown.
His achievements earned him one of the few days in Flint officially named in his honor, “Ronald Byrd Day.”
Additionally, he was inducted into the Greater Flint African American Sports Hall of Fame.
In the same way, Patrick and Timmy also contributed to the family’s gym and coaching efforts.
Their daughters were just as accomplished. Tracy Byrd made her mark by becoming a three-time women’s world boxing champion (IFBA, IWBF, and WIBO) and later served her community as a police officer.
Likewise, another daughter, Laurie Byrd, excelled in basketball at Eastern Michigan University and transitioned into coaching after her playing days.
In 2001, she was inducted into the Greater Flint African American Sports Hall of Fame, just like her father and brother.
Another daughter, Lula, kept a more private profile but was part of the tightly knit and accomplished Byrd family.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Joe won multiple Golden Gloves titles in the late 1950s and early ’60s.
- He began coaching in 1982 with the Police Athletic League (P.A.L.) Boxing Club.
