When world heavyweight title contender Shannon Briggsentered a press conference in Kyiv on Aug. 30, he chose to sit in WBC World Heavyweight Champion Vitali Klitschko’s seat behind a dense clutter of microphones and, more importantly, the prestigious WBC championship belt.
But when Ukraine’s Klitschko (40-2, 38 KOs) entered the staging area, he turned and pointed America’s former world champion Briggs (51-5-1, 45 KOs) to the chair beside his interpreter and manager Gregory Cohen.
“Not yet, too soon,” Briggs said as he respectfully got up from the champion’s chair and sidestepped to his designated seat, shaking his dreadlocks playfully.
Briggs will take on Klitschko in Hamburg, Germany on Oct. 16, attempting to become the first man to defeat the giant Ukrainian since he came out of retirement two years ago.
The last time Klitschko defended his title was in May against unheralded Pole Albert Sosnowski, and before that, against the uninspired Kevin Johnson in December 2009 – both easy pickings for the 39-year-old, Ph.D.-carrying boxer turned Kyiv city councilman.
The always diplomatic Klitschko looked unfazed at his more formidable opponent’s prank and pointed trash-talking.
“I’ll do everything at my disposal to keep this belt,” he said with a determined look. “For some reason the other top-ten challengers like Nikolai Valuev, David Haye, Aleksandr Povetkin either come down with an illness, get injured or simply can’t agree to favorable boxing terms to fight me,” he said referring to higher ranked fighters who he says are dodging fights with him.
Despite views from the majority, Briggs represents a significant threat to Klitschko.
At 6’4, Briggs, who has the most first round knockouts in heavyweight champion history, is not a consolation fight for the 6`6½” Ukrainian. The 38-year-old Brooklyn native is a two-time world heavyweight champion and has gone toe-to-toe and beaten former champions George Foreman Ray Mercer and Sergei Liakhovich.
He has also fought heavyweight legend Lennox Lewis, nearly knocking him out in early rounds before getting clocked for good in the fifth round. Briggs lost his title to Sultan Ibragimov in March 2007.
“I only lost the fight because of aspirational pneumonia,” said Briggs, who was born with asthma.
Briggs was the last American to hold any world heavyweight championship belt.
“I’m the great American hope, I’m the great Black hope to bring the (heavyweight championship belt) back to the U.S.,” he said after the news conference.
And because of his asthma, “The Cannon” Briggs’ predictable strategy is put out his opponents early, which he has done 27 times in the first round, several times in the first 30 seconds.
He is known as a ferocious, accurate puncher who has impeccable timing.
So “Dr. Ironfist” Klitschko will have his hands full in the early rounds. If he manages to withstand Briggs’ early flurries, he should have no problem patently wearing him down with left jabs and one-two combinations.
Despite views from the majority, Briggs represents a significant threat to Klitschko. According to some boxing enthusiasts, Briggs is, perhaps, more experienced and in great shape.
Briggs has lost 88 pounds since returning to boxing three years ago while Klitschko has looked sluggish and doesn’t follow through on many of his punches after also returning to boxing after a four-year hiatus.
Still, Klitschko boasts boxing history’s highest knockout percentage rate, has a decent work rate and his stamina appears strong unlike his asthma-inflicted opponent who tires as fights wear on, something former champion Lewis demonstrated as early as the fifth round in their 1998 match.
If Briggs doesn’t take him out early or seriously hurt him early, it should be a vintage Klitschko wear-and-tear night in Hamburg, Germany, Oct. 16.
Kyiv Post staff writer Mark Rachkevych can be reached at [email protected]
Click here to read a KyivPost exclusive interview with Shannon Briggs.
