Shannon Briggs returning on June 15

By Boxing News - 03/23/2019 - Comments

Image: Shannon Briggs returning on June 15

By Allan Fox: After three years out of the ring, former WBO heavyweight champion Shannon ‘The Cannon’ Briggs says he’s going to be making a comeback on June 15. Briggs, 46, didn’t go into details, but he’s saying he’s going to be back on the 15th of June. Briggs claims that Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has been trying to keep him out of the game, and he says he sees him as a “chump.”

Briggs (60-6-1, 53 KOs) hasn’t fought since stopping Argentinian journeyman Emilio Ezequiel Zarate in the first round on May 21, 2016. Briggs was supposed to fight David Haye shortly after that, but the two couldn’t arrange a fight. Haye said that Briggs wanted the fight to be on pay-per-view, and that just wasn’t possible at the time.

“June 15th is the return. You’re going to see something you never seen before,” Briggs said to Behind the Gloves in talking about him returning to the ring. “You’re going to see why they didn’t give me a shot. June 15th, you’re going to see why they didn’t want to give the champ a shot,” Briggs said.

Briggs will need to get a boxing license if he’s going to be fighting again. Briggs failed a drug test in testing positive for a banned substance in May 2017, according to Wikipedia. He was supposed to be fighting Fres Oquendo on June 3, 2017. On July 20, 2017, Briggs was given a six month suspension by the World Boxing Association. He’s not ranked in the top 15 at this point. It’s unclear why Briggs didn’t return to the ring in 2018. The six month suspension should have expired by now, so it’s unclear why Briggs didn’t return to the ring in 2018.

“I feel like the boxing game needs me,” Briggs said. “These guys out there like Eddie Hearn; he’s a chump. Eddie Hearn, you’re a chump. He’s trying to keep me out of the game. You don’t want me in the game. I’m dangerous to the game, understand? A guy like me, I’m dangerous. I’m at your press conferences, and I’m at your weigh-ins. I’m everywhere,” Briggs said.

Briggs will be turning 47 in July. He looked decent in his last fight three years ago in 2016, but it’s hard to imagine Briggs being at the same level he was at back then. Briggs had a four year break from boxing following his loss to former WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko in 2010. Briggs took a lot of punishment in that fight in losing a 12 round decision. In 2014, Briggs resumed his career and won nine consecutive fights. Just when it looked like Briggs was in position for some interesting fights, his career stalled out with him not fighting after his win over Zarate in May 2016.

During the interview, Briggs said that he’s interested in getting a place in the UK. If he does that, then it’s possible that he’ll be fighting over there to try and rejuvenate his career. There will be some interesting fights for Briggs if he can start fighting again soon.

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