By Mark Vester
In a bout that on paper appeared to be a sure slufest, it turned into a borefest with both fighters throwing one punch at a time for almost the entire twelve rounds of the fight.
The Arizona crowd at Chase Field booed often to get both fighters to engage.
In the final minute of the final round, Shannon Briggs (48-4-1, 41 KOs) began to open up with power punches that sent WBO heavyweight champion Sergei Liakhovich (23-2, 14 KOs) down and almost out. It was a miracle that Liakhovich was able to get back up on his feet, but got knocked out of the ring and fell on the timekeeper's table from an assault by Briggs.
Upon flying out of the ring, the referee stopped the fight with seconds left in the contest. Official time of the stoppage was 2:59 of round twelve.
Briggs becomes the new WBO heavyweight champion, and continues a 12 fight win streak, all by knockout. He also breaks the European grasp over the heavyweight titles, becoming the only American-born fighter with a heavyweight title.
