By Dave Lahr: In the latest boxing news, WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (40-2, 38 KO’s) has opted for what appears to be another easy mark in 38-year-old Shannon Briggs (51-5-1, 45 KO’s), who Klitschko will be fighting on October 16th in Hamburg, Germany. Having already taken on two easy marks in Kevin Johnson and Alberto Sosnowski in his last two fights, Klitschko dipped down once again in the rankings to select Briggs over arguably much more interesting and qualified heavy contenders Odlanier Solis, Tomas Adamek, Nikolay Valuev, Denis and Boytsov.

This fight will be lucky if it sees the 3rd round, because Briggs has done almost nothing since losing his World Boxing Organization heavyweight title in a lopsided 12 round decision to light hitting Sultan Ibragimov in 2007. Briggs only had the title for one fight after being champion Sergey Liakhovich by a 12th round knockout to capture the WBO title in November 2006. Briggs did nothing after losing the WBO title to Ibragimov, and sat idle for over two years until finally making a comeback in December of 2009 against journeyman Marcus McGee. Briggs has since won three more times against B level opponents.

It would have been great to see how Briggs would have done against a 1st tier heavyweight. At the very minimum, Briggs would have shown that he deserves a title shot on achievement rather than just getting the shot based on his name. Once Klitschko destroys Briggs, it would be nice for a change if he fought someone good like Solis. Forget about WBA heavyweight champion David Haye. I don’t see that fight happening in this lifetime. I don’t think Haye will ever fight any of the klitschko brother. It’s too bad, because it’s kind of off putting to see Vitali destroying guys like Johnson, Sosnowski and now Briggs without mixing in some new blood like Solis.