By Thomas Gerbasi
If boxing matches were fought between the lines of newspapers or in press conferences and phone interviews, Shannon Briggs and Audley Harrison would have been world champions already, celebrated as revered spokesmen for their sport much like the men that came before them, fighters who only need one name to describe them: Ali, Tyson, Louis, Marciano, Dempsey.
In fact, as fall gets underway, it should have been the Yank and the Brit defending their titles against Vitali Klitschko and David Haye, and not the other way around. But fights are won in the ring, and to a certain extent in the gym. And somewhere along the line, things got distorted and short-circuited for two of the more heavily-publicized heavyweights of this era, and instead of champions, they are merely challengers, seen as unworthy contenders for the crown. Yet in this day and age, what is true worthiness for a title? It may very well be determined by being one of the rare few to sign on the dotted line and actually be willing to fight.
Briggs and Harrison signed on that line more than once, as they’ve had their chances to leave a legacy of concrete accomplishments and not just What Ifs.
Harrison was a super heavyweight Olympic Gold medalist for Great Britain in 2000, but some believe he may have left his best fighting form in the amateurs, as the majority of his biggest pro fights have ended in disappointment, not triumph.
Briggs, the most talked about young heavyweight in the game since Tyson back in the early and mid-90s, was a punch away from glory when he fought Lennox Lewis in 1998, and even won a portion of the heavyweight crown with a last second (literally) knockout of Sergei Liakhovich in 2006, only to lose it less than seven months later in a listless performance against Sultan Ibragimov.
And a look at some of the fighters the two have lost to – Darroll Wilson and Sedreck Fields for Briggs, and Michael Sprott and Martin Rogan for Harrison – make it clear that when they’re good, they’re very good, and when they’re bad, they’re atrocious.
Boxing is the world of second – and third, and fourth, and fifth – chances though, and with the right name, the ability to sell a fight in the press, and the potential for danger, there are title shots to be had. So if you’re not impressed with Harrison’s four fight winning streak over Coleman Barrett, Danny Hughes, Scott Belshaw, and previous conqueror Michael Sprott, or Briggs’ three fight streak of first round KOs of Rafael Pedro, Dominique Alexander, and Rob Calloway, you’re not alone, but apparently the WBC and WBA don’t care, the fights will presumably do great business in Europe, and everyone will end up happy when the checks clear.
Beyond that though, are these bouts – Briggs vs Klitschko on October 16th in Hamburg and Harrison vs Haye on November 13th in Manchester simply showcases for the champions, foregone conclusions to pad their records and bank accounts before the end of 2010? Conventional wisdom would say ‘yes’ and is probably joined by unconventional wisdom in this corner as well. So am I crazy because I’m not ready to completely write off both challengers? No, because I’ve been programmed over the years to believe that with the right situation, the right camp, and the right alignment of the planets, Harrison and Briggs can save boxing. And when you see enough flashes of brilliance, it can be intoxicating to your better skeptical sense.
Even Haye, who has been targeted by Briggs should he emerge victorious later this month, knows what he’s seen from the Brooklynite, telling me before his cruiserweight win over Enzo Maccarinelli in 2008, “I remember Shannon Briggs when he first made his name - he was athletic, he was fast, he came out there looking for a knockout and throwing clusters of punches. Now he’s blown up and he looks for one big shot. It doesn’t work that way.”
What Haye was getting at was the lack of athleticism in the heavyweight division these days, something the 38-year old Briggs won’t have to worry too much about against the 39-year old Klitschko. Even in his prime, Vitali would never be confused with his brother, but what made his name then is still paying the bills today – a stiff 1-2, a great chin, and the durability to go 12 rounds. Briggs brings power, mass, and deceptive speed when he commits to his punches, but as always, his gas tank is the question mark, and while his asthma is obviously the issue most – including Briggs – point to, he has never been the most Spartan of workers in the gym, and now is the time when he’ll have to be. He knows it’s his final shot, and after calling for a fight against one or both of the Klitschkos for years, he’s got it. But how bad does he want it? In a country where F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote, “There are no second acts in American lives,” Briggs has been forced to go to Germany to look for his. And it seems to be almost a guarantee that a loss on October 16th will be the end of the road for him.
On the other side of the pond, I’ve been writing Harrison off since his 2008 loss to Rogan, but instead of twisting the knife, I always assumed that he had just gotten started in the pros too late, at 29, and wasn’t able to learn the game properly because of all the hype around him and expectations for him to be the next great British heavyweight. But if anything, this sport is forgiving if you have something that can make someone money, and in the UK, Haye-Harrison is already a success at the box office in Manchester. That’s not surprising given the ability of both to talk more than their share of trash, the storyline of their former friendship, and perhaps, the hope that they can deliver the kind of drama another all-British heavyweight title clash that was ridiculed by fans and pundits alike – 1993’s war between Lewis and Frank Bruno – turned in.
It’s possible, given Harrison’s size advantage, the idea that this might be his last stand, and of course, national pride. And while the 38-year old southpaw came up empty in his first major Civil War, a 12 round split decision loss against Danny Williams in 2005, it was before that bout that Harrison made a telling remark, one that could dictate his level of focus and commitment to the task at hand nearly five years and a disappointing pro career later.
“Danny’s an underachiever,” said Harrison of Williams when he spoke before the fight. “With his talent, he should have gone further. He won the British and Commonwealth, but that’s not something you want to look back and say, ‘all I achieved was British and Commonwealth.’ If I don’t win a world title, then I’ve failed, because that’s my benchmark. My career will be judged by me winning a world title, defending it, and trying to get it undisputed. That’s my benchmark. I’m comparing myself to Lennox, George Foreman, Ali – those kinds of guys. I’m not comparing myself to Danny.”
You could say the same thing about Harrison, and to a lesser extent, Briggs, who did have the title briefly.
“With his talent, he should have gone further.”
Of course, none of that matters now. All the talk and the hype will continue until fight night, but when the bell tolls, championships are won in the ring. And that’s when we’ll find out if Shannon Briggs and Audley Harrison have both learned that lesson.
