by Bill "Two Scoops" Emes
WBO/IBO/WBA/IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko believes veteran Shannon Briggs has lost touch with reality.
For over a year, Briggs has been stalking the champion in multiple continents and causing tense confrontations during training camps, media functions and even as Klitschko was having lunch in a Florida restaurant.
At first it was funny, but now Klitschko is no longer laughing and believes Briggs is suffering from a mental problem.
Briggs, 43-years-old, is calling for a fight with Klitschko on a daily basis. One problem, Briggs has yet to defeat a single highly ranked fighter in the top ten since returning to the sport last April.
"I said it one time and I'll repeat it - we have to save Shannon Briggs from Shannon Briggs. I understand that he's a great promoter and I undertsand that he's doing it very stupid but smart in the same way. The only thing I see is that he's enjoying it so much that he lost the reality [of the situation]," Klitschko said.
"He's crossed some lines. It's not funny anymore. It's dangerous. He's putting himself in danger. I just want to protect him and ask that everyone else protects him from himself. I understand that Shannon was a champion and he's done whatever that he's done. I understand that he's acting but he's a bit out of his mind."