By Bill "Two Scoops" Emes
The temperature was raised a few notches at Friday's official weigh-in for the heavyweight battle between champion Wladimir Klitschko and challenger Bryant Jennings.
But the heat didn't generate from the fighters making weight. It came from a war or words between two of the guests.
WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (33-0, 32KOs), and former WBO beltholder Shannon Briggs, were verbally brawling before a crowd of onlookers.
Briggs has stalked Klitschko for well over a year. He randomly appears at press events, usually shirtless, and screaming at Klitschko for a fight. Besides crashing press events in several countries, Briggs also confronted Klitschko at a restaurant among other public places.
Wilder is open to the idea of fighting Briggs - if the veteran decides to work his way up the ladder by beating ranked opponents and gaining a mandatory position.
"With Briggs, he's old and he hasn't really been fighting nobody, but still saying he's the champ. What do you think it is? Of course, he's leading in to entertaining the people, trying to get back in and trying getting money. It's obvious now. People can see it. Look at how he taunted and followed Klitschko all over," Wilder told BoxingScene.com.
"I told him before 'the people are not laughing with you, they are laughing at you. You're too old for that. If it works then it works, but if don't then you're the laughing stock of the world. you're getting older. Fight your way up like you're supposed to in the heavyweight division and then nobody can deny you. Don't be coming out here and calling yourself the champ. You're not the champ. You're the former champion. I got the most prestigious and known belt in boxing, which is the WBC - which is something that he hasn't had.
