Joshua will need to face Charr-Ustinov vs. Oquendo winner eventually

Image: Joshua will need to face Charr-Ustinov vs. Oquendo winner eventually

By Scott Gilfoid: WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will eventually need to face the winner of tonight’s fight between Manuel Charr and Alexander Ustinov fight.

Ustinov (34-1, 25 KOs) is fighting Charr (30-4, 17 KOs) for the vacant WBA World heavyweight title in Oberhausen, Germany. The World Boxing Association is interested in reducing the number of champions in each division. Part of that plan obviously will involve Joshua, who holds the WBA Super World heavyweight title, fighting the winner of the Charr vs. Ustinov fight.

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Fres Oquendo vs. Kubrat Pulev possible for WBA heavyweight title

Image: Fres Oquendo vs. Kubrat Pulev possible for WBA heavyweight title

According to Bobby Hitz, the President of Hitz Boxing, he is in talks to possibly bring the first WBA Heavyweight Championship fight in over 35 years to Chicago. “Yes, I can confirm that my co-promoter, Roy Jones, Jr.’s Square Ring Promotions, and I have spoken to Kubrat Pulev’s promoter, Sauerland Event in Germany, about promoting [Fres] Oquendo and Pulev for the WBA Heavyweight Championship here in Chicago sometime early next year,” Hitz said. “There are large Puerto Rican and Bulgarian populations in Chicago, and it just makes sense to do the fight here. The last WBA heavyweight title fight that took place in Chicago was Mike Weaver vs. James “Quick” Tillis in 1981 and ever since the possibility of this fight was first leaked on a Bulgarian news site, I’ve been getting calls off the hook. I think it would be great to do this fight in the same building, the Allstate Arena, that hosted Weaver vs. Tillis and I am hopeful that we may be able to put this together.”

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Shannon Briggs vs. Fres Oquendo called off

Image: Shannon Briggs vs. Fres Oquendo called off

By Jim Dower: Shannon Briggs won’t be fighting Fres Oquendo for the vacant WBA heavyweight title on June 3. The fight was canceled on Tuesday following the news of the 44-year-old Briggs testing positive for increased level of testosterone during a test conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency last month on May 14. Briggs and Oquendo were going to be fighting next month on June 3 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

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Shannon Briggs tests positive, fight with Oquendo to be called off?

Image: Shannon Briggs tests positive, fight with Oquendo to be called off?

By Jim Dower: In bad news for former WBO heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs’ career, he allegedly has tested positive for increased testosterone levels, according to Dan Rafael. The positive test means that the 45-year-old Briggs’ scheduled June 3rd fight against 44-year-old Fres Oquendo (37-8, 24 KOs) will be called off. Briggs and Oquendo were supposed to be fighting for the vacant WBA World heavyweight title. Briggs’ drug test by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association on May 14 tested high for testosterone, according to Dan Rafael.

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Briggs vs. Oquendo – Press Conference Quotes & Photo

Image: Briggs vs. Oquendo - Press Conference Quotes & Photo

Heavyweight contenders Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs and Fres Oquendo faced off for the first time today (Tuesday, May 9) before they battle for the WBA Heavyweight Championship on Saturday, June 3 in the main event of Backyard Brawl: Briggs vs. Oquendo taking place at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

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Shannon Briggs vs. Fres Oquendo on June 3

Image: Shannon Briggs vs. Fres Oquendo on June 3

Two-time world heavyweight champion Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs and three-time title challenger Fres Oquendo will battle for the World Boxing Association (WBA) Heavyweight Championship in the main event of Backyard Brawl: Briggs vs. Oquendo taking place on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. Doors open at 6 p.m. with first fight at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now.

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Shannon Briggs vs. Fres Oquendo fight for WBA title on June 3

Image: Shannon Briggs vs. Fres Oquendo fight for WBA title on June 3

By Jim Dower: In a battle of old timers, 45-year-old Shannon Briggs will be fighting 43-year-old Fres Oquendo for the vacant WBA World heavyweight title on June 3. The venue for the fight could potentially take place at the Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida.

The World Boxing Association has two titles at heavyweight. The other WBA title, known as the ‘Super World’ heavyweight belt, will be fought over by Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko next month on April 29 at Wembley Stadium in London, England.

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Shannon Briggs vs. Fres Oquendo to have second purse bid on Feb.23

Image: Shannon Briggs vs. Fres Oquendo to have second purse bid on Feb.23

By Jeff Aranow: Earlier today, heavyweights Shannon Briggs and Fres Oquendo met for a purse bid. Unfortunately for them, there wasn’t a big enough bid to meet the World Boxing Association’s minimum requirement of $1 million, according to Fight News. The WBA has now scheduled a second purse bid for the Briggs-Oquendo fight on February 23.

Hopefully there will be a large enough bid for the second purse bid so that the fight can go ahead. Today’s high bid was $400K by Henry Rivalta from The Heavyweight Factory, according to Fight News.

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WBA orders Shannon Briggs vs. Fres Oquendo

Image: WBA orders Shannon Briggs vs. Fres Oquendo

By Eric Baldwin: The World Boxing Association has ordered heavyweights Shannon Briggs and Fres Oquendo to fight it out for the vacant WBA heavyweight title. Briggs, 46, reportedly wants the Oquendo fight to take place in London, England. Briggs (60-6-1, 53 KOs) has been building a fan base in the UK since fighting on the undercard heavyweight David Haye’s last fight in May of 2016.

It looks like Briggs is trying to position himself to fight a unification match against IBF champion Anthony Joshua in the UK if he can capture the WBA title.

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Fres Oquendo vs. Shannon Briggs expected to be announced shortly

Image: Fres Oquendo vs. Shannon Briggs expected to be announced shortly

By Dan Ambrose: A fight between #5 WBA Fres Oquendo and #4 WBA Shannon Briggs (60-6-1, 53 KOs) is expected to be announced soon, according to Fight News. It is believed that they would be fighting for the vacant World Boxing Association title. Browne was going to fight Oquendo for the WBA title, but he was out with an injury.

Briggs hasn’t fought since May when he defeated Emilio Zarate by a 1st round knockout on the undercard of David Haye’s fight against Arnold Gjergjaj. Briggs was hoping that he would get a fight against Haye if he fought on his card.

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