Photo credit Sumio Yamada – By Dave Lahr: Former World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs (51-6-1, 45 KO’s) put in a valiant effort last Saturday night against WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (41-2, 38 KO’s), losing by a 12 round decision after badly tearing up his left biceps at the O2 World Arena, in Hamburg, Germany. Fighting with only his right arm for much of the fight, Briggs was unable to use his main weapon – his left hook – take out the tall Ukrainian. It was almost as if Briggs was fighting with a crippling injury, because it left him with no back-up plan.

Some fighters are just as deadly with both hands, but Briggs has always been a big puncher with his left for some reason. For those boxing fans who wonder why Briggs looked so bad, they need to consider the horrible injury that Briggs sustained to his left biceps before they make judgments about him. Fighting with a painful biceps tear is one of the most debilitating injuries you can have.

I once pulled one of my biceps while lifting weights and believe me, it hurt and I can’t imagine fighting with a complete tear of my biceps like Briggs. No wonder he wasn’t able to get his punches off. Had he been able to fight with two good arms, I have no doubts that he would have made mincemeat of Vitali’s face and torn up his tender skin around his eyes. That skin was just begging to be torn up by Briggs, but having a biceps tear is like having a flat tire on race day. You’re not going to be beating anyone with a biceps tear, believe me. But at least Briggs didn’t quit. What did Vitali do when he tore up his shoulder in his fight with Chris Byrd in 2000?

If my memory serves me, Vitali quit on his stool after the 9th round. He didn’t stick it out like Briggs and fight to the bitter end. Instead, Vitali took the soft way out by having the fight stopped in between rounds after getting hit with a few slapping punches by Byrd in the 9th. Vitali had a huge lead in the fight and all he had to do was fight three more rounds and he would have won the fight. But what did he do? He quit. So, I’m very proud of how Briggs stood up and fought with a bad injury and didn’t let it get him down and cause him to quit.