Liakhovich/Briggs: Latest Greatest?
By Robert Ecksel August 25th, 2006Klitschko/Briggs down tubes; Brooklyn Dread signs with DKP
When Oleg Maskaev captured the WBC title from Hasim Rahman, many otherwise slumping men sat up and noticed. Among them was fight manager par excellence, Shelly Finkel. Finkel captained the U.S.S. Tyson during the years when it counted, and he’s now at the helm of the Good Ship Klitschko (IBF), making killer deals for his contract killer on the high seas.
Klitschko/Finkel have a Nov. 11 date at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Wladimir Klitschko was going to face Brooklyn’s own Shannon Briggs, he of the golden dreadlocks, in the belief that the world champ vs. local kid in the local kid’s hometown angle, though hackneyed and clichéd, can still be made to work.
The fight almost, sort of, maybe if you stretched it, kind of looked good on paper, so it could be made to look good on TV. But then Big O did the unthinkable and torpedoed the Rock, and Klitschko-Briggs, from Team Klitschko’s perspective, lost its buoyancy.
Klitschko’s reps offered the date to Maskaev. They made overtures all around. Shannon Briggs grew tired of being told to hurry up and wait, grew tired of being dissed and dicked around, so he signed with DKP (Don King Productions), with the stipulation that he’ll get a shot at WBO heavyweight champ Sergei Liakhovich, also possibly in November, also possibly in New York.
The White Wolf’s been clamoring for a fight, but he was calling out his peers, the other division champs.
Not sure Shannon Briggs, while ranked #3 by the WBO, advances that agenda.
August 26th, 2006 at 3:43 pm
Interesting fight. You just cant count Don King out. Briggs has poor stamina…anything over 4 rounds and he will probably lose. He runs out of air so fast…saw his fights against Lewis and Darroll Wilson..horrible.
August 26th, 2006 at 9:50 pm
But remember…Klitschko also has a tendency to burn out in mid rounds
August 27th, 2006 at 9:14 am
True…but still, I think Klitschko has improved vastly. Briggs shows no improvement at all. Klitschko looked energized all 12 rounds with Peter and looked pretty fresh with Byrd….I dont know about Sergie though, I think if he keeps Briggs off him rounds 1-3, he could win on points or even knockout.
August 27th, 2006 at 9:55 am
I strongly believe that Liakhovich will defeat Shannon Briggs as Shannon hasn’t beaten not one legitimate contender over the last few years. Additionally, Shannon runs out of gas and doesn’t have the best chin. Furthermore, I think that he made a big mistake signing with Don King Productions as he would’ve been better of challenging Oleg Maskaev or waiting for Wladimir Klitschko to fight him.
August 27th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
Liakhovich SHOULD beat Briggs, but Briggs shouldn’t even be fighting for a title. He’s done nothing at all to deserve a shot at the title, unless a draw with Frans Botha and a loss to Jameel McCline qualify a fighter as a heavyweight challenger. Briggs has beaten up a bunch of no hopers recently.
August 27th, 2006 at 6:11 pm
Vincent, having said that, I also agree that Manny Steward made a better guy out of Wlad. He appears to be more mobile these days and is using more skill than ever. What he did to Byrd was unbelievable.
If he ever fought Briggs, he’d win easy if he used his skills and moved around - Briggs will take his head off if he stands still.
August 28th, 2006 at 9:01 am
Paulie, you are absolutely right. If people can ever forget the Wlad that lost badly to Sanders and Brewster, they’d realize that this is a new improved Klitschko we see in the last two fights. This very Byrd, less than a year ago made the giant McCline look foolish, but Wlad manhandled him.
I certainly think Wlad K will be too intelligent to stand and slug with Briggs. He was “dancing” and clinching effectively all 12 rounds with Peter. The man works hard and turns up in shape.
G-Pal, Briggs biggest asset is now Don King..like Golota he will “mysteriously” get several title shots.
August 29th, 2006 at 12:48 pm
One thing I’ve noticed about Klitschko in the fights where he’s been beaten down & stopped, & even in the fight with Peter: Wlad always got up! I can’t remember him being counted out cold! I don’t remember how many knockdowns he’s gotten up from, but he has always gotten up!
That is still a noble quality!
August 29th, 2006 at 2:27 pm
Yeah, he always gets up, but that doesn’t win fights!
He didn’t exactly look steady on his feet against Brewster. If he wasn’t saved by the bell he would’ve been down for 10.
I think it is safe to say that most of his knockdowns were from light punches. So, he goes down easly from light punches, when in fact he wasn’t badly hurt, but just goes down easy.
Corris Sanders stragiht left was his hardest punch. He got up, but continued to go down from light punches because he couldn’t recover.
August 29th, 2006 at 2:43 pm
Liakovich is the best heavyweight out their since teaming with trainer Kenny Weldon in 2002. He’ll make short work of Briggs and will soon be the undisputed champion. I watch him train before each fight. Everyone will soon see, this guy is no joke.
October 31st, 2006 at 3:29 am
all of you guys are blind and cant seeee!!!!!!!! SHANON THE CANNON is going to make history on nov 4 there is no doubt about that. he has the best trainer anybody has seen.briggs is not the same boxer that fought at an early age. at 34 his faster and has the strongest punch i have ever seen. if you dont believe me ask his last 11 fighters which he k.o.