By Dave Lahr: WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (40-2, 38 KO’s) will be making his 5th and likely his last title defense of his World Boxing Council crown on October 16th against one-punch knockout artist Shannon Briggs (51-5-1, 45 KO’s) at the O2 World Arena, Altona, in Hamburg, Germany. Other than Lennox Lewis, Vitali, 39, has never fought anyone with the kind of size, power and speed that the 38-year-old Briggs possesses. Vitali is about to step into uncharted territory because he’s going to be facing a fighter that has the main ingredients to end his heavyweight title reign with one single shot to the head.

In that regard, Briggs will be giving Vitali mercy by putting him out of his misery quickly rather than torturing him for 10 or 11 rounds with heavy shot and making him suffer longer in the bout. Vitali hasn’t been hit the way that he’s going to be hit by Briggs since he was staggered and almost dropped in the opening round against South African Corrie Sanders six years ago in 2004.

Sanders, however, didn’t have the size to keep on top of Vitali and finish him off the way that Briggs will on October 16th. Briggs, at this point in his career, has better hand speed and perhaps slightly better power than Lewis did when he fought Klitschko seven years ago in 2003. Lewis was 38 at the time, the same age as Briggs is now, and he was able to tear Vitali’s face to mincemeat with right hands and uppercuts.

Those happen to be Briggs’ best weapons as well. Vitali has no place to hide from Briggs. On the outside, Briggs will be able to reach Vitali with his faster hands and big power; And, on the inside, Briggs will rip away at Vitali with uppercuts. The difference here is that Briggs, with his incredible hand speed and huge power, may end the fight with a single punch by tagging Vitali with one of his huge right hands or left hooks to the head.

I can see Vitali getting toppled over like a huge human version of the Titanic as he’s sent to the canvas to be counted out by the referee. Klitschko has had four successful title defenses up until now, but I think his luck is about to run out for good when Briggs tears into him with his monstrous power shots. I expect to see a lot of blood on the canvas from Vitali’s ripped off face. It’s going to be ugly. I hope they bring lots of mops, a big pail and disinfectant.