40-year-old Shannon Briggs to return to the ring in March
January 5th, 2012
By Sean McDaniel: 40-year-old former WBO heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs (51-6-1, 45 KO’s) will be returning to the ring in March to continue his boxing career after a year and half absence from the ring following a one-sided 12 round unanimous decision loss to WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko in October 2010.
As for what Briggs hope to accomplish with this comeback it’s unknown. He says he wants to regain a heavyweight world title and thinks that would be a big thing. At his age, with his injuries and extensive time off from the sport, it’s difficult to see Briggs having much of an impact in the heavyweight division. Vitali Klitschko is likely to retire in a year or so, but there are a number of quality heavyweights that will immediately move in to fill the void left by the huge 6’7” Ukrainian. I’m not sure that Briggs can be that person unless he starts fighting a lot and knocking off some of the top contenders to get a title shot. In the past, Briggs has knocked off B level fighters one after another to get his title shots. I don’t know if he can accomplish again.
Briggs fought WBC heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis for a world title in March 1998 after facing largely B level fighters leading up to the fight. Lewis stopped Briggs in the 5th round in that fight. Briggs then went back to fighting B level competition and eight years later, he stopped WBO heavyweight champion Sergiy Liakhovich in the 12th round to capture a world title in November 2006. Briggs lost the title in his first defense against Sultan Ibragimov seven months later in June 2007.
In 2009, Briggs went back to fighting B level heavyweights and after five wins over mediocre opposition, Briggs fought Vitali Klitschko for his WBC heavyweight title in October 2010 and took a beating in losing by a lopsided 12 round decision. Now you have to wonder if Briggs will repeat this process by facing 5 to 10 B level fighters to get a fourth shot at world title.
Tags: 16 Responses to “40-year-old Shannon Briggs to return to the ring in March”
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Briggs vs Bowe and Kevin Johnson vs Tyson Fury make these fight happen.
For what!
All these old fighters coming back Briggs, Morrison, Bowe, Tua, Rahman and Holyfield should have their own title for legends that need money like a prize fighter or charity boxing, so the young guns don’t have to hurt them.
if he was sup to get 750 000 grand why does he not sue vitaly for whats due him ??????
Yes he did so well against Klitschko getting beatin into the hospital he deserves another title shot, sure ..
Lennox made him punchdrunken and Vitali did the rest. Nice tag-team. Poor Shannon.
Clue Giver – apparently his injuries arent as bad they seem so his fight in march is still on!
It is the state of boxing that is allowing him to make a comeback. Apart from the K-Bros who else is there? Everybody kows that they can’t be about forever.
Even with the beating Briggs took last time, he could easily work towards another big payday because there is nobody else.
Here we go again,another bum who’s
Going to destroy boxing.
but i bet briggs would ko haye bad and all as he is!!
Anonymous — well he was supposed to fight in March – I believe that date has been set back now since Rodriguez got stabbed recently and is recovering.
Shannon Brokes!
DAVID “EL NINO” RODRIGUEZ IS SUPPOSIDLY FIGHTING A FORMER WORLD CHAMP IN MARCH?? CUD IT BE BRIGGS I WONDER
if he wants to do it let him do it, there are plenty of up and coming young Heavies that Shannon would prove a test for and by beating any of them that are better than B level, may just get him his one last title shot. However, the likes of Fury, Price, Charr, Wilder, Areola, Pulev, Perez, Chisora, Helenius, Huck (now rated as a heavy WTF!!), Seth Mitchell, Ustinov who are all considered up and coming or contenders would all make short work of Briggs and he would be a credible name on their record and their stake for world honours.
oh dear. briggs is only average at best. To many other people wsy in front of briggs and so much better. poor champion and this return ciuld be a disaster
It does look very much like Vitali has knocked Briggs senseless. Shannon had his cannon spiked by VK and now this. Some people just don’t know when itz time to quit.