When I go out to eat, I’m not looking for anything fancy. Just give me a hefty well-cooked steak and a big old baked potato. As a friend of mine used to say, “Meat and taters”…When I look back at the careers of certain fighters, some fall into that “meat and taters” category. Nothing fancies…Just good old home cooking’ in that ring. Akron middleweight Doyle Baird delivered that good old home cooking’ every time he stepped into the ring.
The Rubber City of Akron has probably never produced anything more resilient then a boxer named Doyle Baird. Rugged and balding, he was often compared to Carmen Basilio in looks and his swarming style. After a fine amateur career he turned professional in 1966 under the wing of 
Don Elbaum. After defeating Ted Wright two years later he had amassed a 23-2 record. On October 14, 1968, Doyle fought middleweight champion Nino Benvenuti in a non-title bout at the Akron Rubber Bowl. There may never have been a more dubious draw decision rendered. By almost all ringside accounts the champion had been beaten that night by the tenacious Baird. One year later Doyle outpointed Don Fullmer in Cleveland to show he was no fluke. Back in Cleveland three months later Hall of Famer, Emile Griffith, out boxed him. On September 12, 1970, Doyle again met Benvenuti in a non-title bout at Bari, Italy. Nino stopped Doyle in the tenth round. It would be Nino’s last victory. In 1971, Baird engaged in a thrilling three fight series with the tough Mike Pusateri winning two out of three. Moving out of the middleweight division, Doyle received a shot at the WBA. Light heavyweight title. On December 15, 1971, Baird challenged Vicente Rondon who proved to be too strong for Doyle retaining his crown via an eighth round stoppage. A kayo loss to Jean Claude Bouttier in France in 1972 finished Doyle as a serious contender. Since Doyle’s retirement, he has been active in training amateur boxers in the Akron area.
Although he considered Benvenuti a great boxer, Baird feels Griffith was a better all around fighter. Being a natural middleweight Baird said he took the Rondon bout for the title shot and the money. Doyle said he did not make much money during his career, but he would do it all over again. His love of boxing has helped many youngsters in the community. Mr.Doyle Baird is a stand up guy…