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Steward: Briggs Most Dangerous!
Klitschko trainer says Briggs is most dangerous challenger.
Legendary trainer Emanuel Steward says the most dangerous challenger his fighter, IBF Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko, could choose for his November 11 title defense is the one his HBO counterpart Larry Merchant has claimed he would least like to see. “The only guy I told Wlad I didn’t want to fight was Shannon Briggs. Shannon is a fighter with very fast hands who can match Wladimir for size and not be out-muscled. He’s also a tight puncher. I wasn’t worried that much when Wlad fought Sam Peter. He clubs, so you can get away from his punches easier, plus he doesn’t put them together as fast and accurately. Shannon Briggs is the guy I dread the most in the entire division.” According to Steward, who has known Klitschko since his Olympic days, it’s a matter of styles that makes Briggs such a high-risk choice. “He’s the most dangerous challenger in the division because of his size and speed. He may get tired later in a fight, but if you don’t make it through the first three or four rounds, who gives a damn? When Wlad was fighting Corrie Sanders, I was watching it on TV and I was always concerned because he’s the same type of guy. Kamikaze. He’ll let it all hang out and if you’re not prepared for it…And Corrie Sanders is nowhere near as big and fast as Briggs is. (New WBC King Oleg) Maskaev was a fight everybody was trying to make, but the more dangerous fight is still with Shannon Briggs. He’s a sturdier fighter. If it does take place, it’ll be a much bigger, more dangerous fight for Wlad than Maskaev.”
Monday, August 21 2006

Sanders is a lot faster than Briggs, who is a right big lump these days. Briggs has done absolutely jack all to earn his shot except bowl over a bunch of stiffs in short order.

Of course, anyone with a big punch has the potential to hurt Wlad, but let's be honest, it's much more likely that Briggs will get pounded all over the ring and collapse in a heap after 5 rounds. Admittedly, I think Maskaev would get hammered too, but to trump up Briggs as some sort of destroyer of men based on his recent performances is just plain cobblers.

Totally agree. Anyone talking up Briggs as a worthy challenger is full off it. The likes of Skelton and McCline have done more to 'deserve' a shot.

If it goes beyond 4 rounds you can only see Klitschko winning, but it wouldn't be the biggest shock to me if Briggs pulled off a win inside 3 rounds.

In the Peter fight he only connected a few times, and that was with single shots, but he hurt Klitschko everytime. Briggs has about the same power as Peter and can if he gets his conditioning right at least throw a combination, so he has at least a punchers chance.

Briggs might even get KO'd by dust mites. Isn't that why he lost to the journyeman Darrol Wilson?

Even though Briggs in no shape or form deserves a title shot I can see what Manny is saying.

Briggs will never be in shape to get a decision win over Wlad. He knows that himself better than anyone. His only chance is to jump on him with speed power and accuracy like Sanders did. He's got all 3 of those attributes like Sanders too (on his last showing i saw at least) and that will always make him dangerous against someone with no confidence in their punch resistance.

It is low risk high reward for the first 3 or 4 rounds. After that it's a slow pummelling for a late stoppage or points victory for Klit.

Yeah I thought exactly the same thing when I read Manny's latest laughable press release yesterday.

I mean, virtualy any big heavyweight in the top 20 is a "dangerous fight" for the porcelain chinned Wlad. Except, perhaps, the even more fragile faint hearted Briggs.
Rather than working on tactics, Shannon is more likely holding talks with his hair dresser on what look to sport on the night.

I'm actually looking foward to this fight, its going to be an exciting finish either way, i can't see it going to points.
Hopefully Briggs will realise its his last chance at the bigtime and get his conditioning right.

Just goes to show how crap the heavies are,when people are realistically talking about a guy who got whooped by McCline as having a chance against the acknowledged champ....

topper123 wrote:I'm actually looking foward to this fight, its going to be an exciting finish either way, i can't see it going to points.
Hopefully Briggs will realise its his last chance at the bigtime and get his conditioning right.

Hmm, don't know if he can. Briggs started his career as a 208 lber, her was 273 for his last fight and he's been going up in weight steadily his whole career.

Modern heavies just don't seem to be able to keep their weight in check. Even as a 35 year old Ali was only 225, having started at around 205 and peaked at 215

When Briggs was posting on the current scene a few months back he seemed like a decent fella and he posted a few pics of him in training, afew guys over there were sure he was juicing..

Oh yeh and apparently he was KO'd by Sultan Ibagimov in sparring.

I'm going for Wlad KO 6

Funnily enough Shannon emailed me last year when I wrote a piece on the demise of Frank Bruno for maxboxing. He said that he was shocked and saddened to hear about Frank and that he had met Frank many years ago before the 2nd Tyson fight and how Frank was really nice to him and offered to look after him while he was in London and show him around. Said to pass on his best wishes for a speedy recovery to Frank, and seemed like a really nice guy.

I do like Briggs, he is a smart guy and a real character.... Good to have in the sport.

I preferred him at around 230 (a la the Lennox fight) if he could land that kind of Left hook on Wlad then it will be good night for the Kiev boy.

However I assume he is much slower at 275 (correct me if I am wrong) and this will diminish the chances of him landing that kind of shot.

Re: the doping....he is a big guy but I wouldnt be surprised if he was doing a little Vitamin S. Especially with his MMA connections..those guys love the stuff