40-year-old Shannon Briggs to be back in the ring in March or April

By Allen Fox: Former WBO heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs (51-6-1, 45 KO’s) is looking to reload on his career and make a comeback in March or April against a still to be determined opponent. Briggs, 40, last fought in October 2010 when he was badly beaten by WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko by a 12 round unanimous decision.

The defeat put Briggs in the hospital due to a torn left tendon and bicep. The injury has since healed and he’s had a lot of time off from the sport since then. Briggs plans on taking things slowly and work up to what he hopes will be a heavyweight title shot in the future at some point.

Compared 49-year-old Evander Holyfield, Briggs is still quite young. It remains to be seen whether he still has his power. His left hook was one of his main weapons and without that weapon he’s not going to go very far. But for Briggs to get another title shot in the future, it’s logical to assume that he’ll have to actually beat a contender this time to get a fight and won’t be just handed a title fight based on his name.

I think both of the Klitschko brothers will be hesitant to fight Briggs again after the last one-sided fight. If Briggs still decides to face nothing but C level opposition and hope that he’ll get selected by one of the champions, it’s going to take the WBA champ Alexander Povetkin to give him the shot.

Povetkin is perfect because he’s already defended his title against a 43-year-old Cedric Boswell and will be facing an unranked Marco Huck in his next fight next month. If Briggs can fight five or six times in 2012, he might get Povetkin to give him the shot. If not, then I can’t see him ever getting another world title fight. He could end up like Holyfield, facing 3rd tier opposition and wondering why none of the champions are showing any interest in fighting him.

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