Comments Thread For: Vitali Klitschko-Shannon Briggs: Pre-Fight Report Card

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Cliff Rold - Really?

Even in a Heavyweight division as shallow as this one, the best that the second best Heavyweight in the world can come up with in the last year is a trifecta of Kevin Johnson, Albert Sosnowski, and Shannon Briggs?

Really?

Have the brothers Klitschko reached a point where Wladimir will be facing the contenders and Vitali simply makes appearances? It’s hard not to wonder given this run. It’s also hard to fault Vitali. Look around for the top contenders chomping at the bit to get Vitali (or Wladimir for that matter) in the ring. [Click Here To Read More]

[GatecrasherUA]

The Ledgers

Vitali Klitschko
BoxingScene Rank: #1 at Flyweight

Really?

[Drunken Cat]

I expected Briggs would score higher than B for power.

[ChopperRead]

It's be nice to watch a fight for once without some whiney boxing writer pissing all over it before it even starts. I swear, boxing media is the only sports media that constantly denigrates its own product. Would baseball media tell you that a game is likely to be a snoozefest, raising the issue of why watch it at all? Sad and ridiculous.

[ChopperRead]

Briggs is a two-time belt-holder with very good power. He's also in good shape for this. I expect an entertaining show.

[Guest]

Briggs is a two-time belt-holder with very good power. He's also in good shape for this. I expect an entertaining show.

The thing is, Briggs generally disappoints on the big stage so perhaps some pessimism is in order.


I hope it's entertaining- hope it's not like the Sergei Liahkovich or Sultan Ibragimov fights which for the most part, ******.

[sterling]

briggs looks like he struggles to breath half he time lmao this going to be a KO loss or a shut out boring fight ganrantteed.

[ChopperRead]

The thing is, Briggs generally disappoints on the big stage so perhaps some pessimism is in order.


I hope it's entertaining- hope it's not like the Sergei Liahkovich or Sultan Ibragimov fights which for the most part, ******.

Vitali's fights aren't boring unless the other guy doesn't come to fight, like Kevin Johnson. Briggs is not going to be able to run, which means he is going to have to stand and fight, which should make for a lot of fireworks for as long as it lasts, and it won't go the distance.

Anyway, why not be optimistic about it? I fail to see the point in pissing all over an event before it even takes place. Boxing fans are the biggest defeatists in all of sports.

[jrosales13]

Great article by the best writer in the business IMO. Cliff like always is on point.

[Heru]

My Grades

------------------Klitschko - Briggs
Speed -----------B- B
Power -----------A- B+
Defense ---------A B-
Intangibles ------A C-

Briggs is faster with his hands and feet than this version of Klitschko. His reflexes are too, except when he's taking one of his deep breathes, which is all the time, so he has to cede that.

Vitali's power doesn't seem much in comparison to Wlad and Haye because of his lack of speed and explosion, but it's there, he makes up what he lacks with accumulation. Briggs is literally knocking out all bums, usually in the first rounds too, so he can hurt you, but it takes more than one shot at this level.

You can count on your hands how many times Vitali actually gets hit on the head in fights, even his body, which he leaves open, rarely gets hit. It might be ugly (it is) because all he does is lean back and stick his arms out while walking back, but the point is he doesn't get hit. Briggs has a good defense, his counterpunching, power, and size get his opponents tentative, thus letting him hyperventilate in the center of the ring.

Except for the Byrd embarrassment, Vitali is as consistent as you can ask from a fighter. Briggs, except against low level club fighters, is the opposite.