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Heavyweight contender Shannon Briggs goes on the record, and absolutely blasts Shelly Finkel for (in his words) "bitching out" on his word that a fight between Briggs and Klitschko was 1000 percent done. Briggs pulls no punches as he acuses Finkel, and team Klitschko for using his name to hype up a fight at Madison Square Garden. Briggs also touches on his new deal with Don King, and a possible title challenge against Serguei Liakhovich.
BT - Big Briggs, what is up? What the heck is going on here Briggs?
SB - Well I was really going through a real battle dealing with Shelly Finkel, and The Klitschko's for the last 2 and a half months. I thought we had a deal, we had a verbal agreement, and in Shelly Finkels' words it was 1000 % done. I guess his 1000% is less than 100%, but anyway it was rough because my mind was set on fighting Klitschko, it would have been a great fight. It was a great fight for New York City, and I tell you Brad, this is what's wrong with the state of boxing today, I am not even saying from my standpoint that I am a poor guy, I am looking at the smaller guys. If It wasn't for the fact that I have a powerful team supporting me, my word would have never got out. We sent out over 1000 emails telling people about the deal that was going on, but we were put to the side, and they were telling me that they were talking to Brock, Sultran, and all of these other guys, it was very disrespectful to me, and my team for them to be doing that. In my opinion Brad, Shelly Finkel is what's wrong with boxing.
BT - Briggs so the day just came when you got tired of waiting around, and threw your hands up ?
SB - Well I wanted to sign with Don King for many years now, but the truth of the matter is that I wasn't ready to. This was perfect timing for me because with Don having a piece of Valuev, and Serguei Lyakhovich I feel it was a good thing for him to have an American Heavyweight, and he agreed. People have a lot of negative things to say about Don King, first of all I think it's because he's a black man, and because he's a very successful black man. I hate to pull the race card, but it's a true fact of nature, it's just how it is. Don King has made many champions, and he has made a lot of money for a lot of guys over the years, Tyson, Holyfield, Byrd. The timing is right for me, I am physically ready, and I am an American Heavyweight that can bring home one of the crowns.
BT - Everything happens for a reason Briggs. King having a piece of these Heavyweights in my opinion shortens your path for getting you your title shot, now that the Klitschko fight fell through.
SB - That's for sure, and like I said Brad on my own I came a long way, but I wasn't ready for Don King. Now I am ready, and hopefully he can make me millions of dollars like he's made others. I appreciate this opportunity that Don King has given me to hopefully fight Serguei Lyakhovich on Showtime on November 4th. I am looking forward to it, I feel happy, and like you said Brad, everything happens for a reason. In my opinion, I will say it again, the Shelly Finkels of the world are destroying boxing. There is no union, so there is no one to speak up for the fighters. What bothers me the most about all of this Brad is that they went to Madison Square Garden, and said they had me in a contract, and that's how they got that date. Now he is fighting Brock? Brock's not from New York, how many tickets are they going to sell? They used my name to get to the Garden, I am born and raised in New York City, I used to go watch Wrestling at The Garden back in the 80's. Here we are now years later, and they use my name to lock in a date for the venue, and they don't even use me. Hopefully things will change.
BT - You mentioned the opportunity of possibly fighting Lyakhovich, has Don King told you anything more about this possibility ?
SB - Well right now it's up to Ivailo his manager to accept the deal. It's not really a big money fight for me, it's an opportunity fight for me. I appreciate the opportunity, and I think they have agreed, it's about 95 % percent done. I just want to get in there and bring this belt back to America.
BT - Briggs if you beat the guy, add some zero's to your next purse though (laughs).
SB - Exactly... I think the whole thing behind the Klitschko thing was the fact that I don't think Wlad wanted to fight me anyway. I think HBO and Shelly are trying to protect their champion, if I hit this guy on his chin, it's nighty night for him. I am a sharp shooter, I am a big puncher. I never said that I am the greatest, but I am the latest. If I had that chance, I would have gotten him out of there. They did everything in their power to avoid fighting me and now they are fighting Calvin Brock or Calvin FLOP, who's going to see him in New York? I am curious to see that.
BT - Earlier you mentioned that you didn't think Wladimir wanted to fight you, I read several times where Manny Steward was quoted as saying you were a very dangerous opponent for Wlad.
SB - When you look at Emanuel Steward he is a great trainer, and a great manager. Manny managed a lot of guys over the years and they made a lot of money. Manny knows both ends of the game, and he saw it was a dangerous fight for Wlad, but at the same time he thought Wlad needed a fight against a guy like me. Wlad is a *****, he's not a tough guy, I think Manny knew he needed a fight against a guy like me because IF he could pull it off, it would be great for him, two guys ****ing. Manny knew this, what's Wlad going to do, go in there and blow out Calvin Brock? HBO is trying to protect him, they make him like a giant killer, and he's not, he's a ****in ****.
BT - That's the power of boxing Briggs. (laughs).
SB - Man I got booted off of AOL for sending out too many emails about that fight man (laughs), I have a ******* page also it's http://www.*******.com/briggsboxing I was out there day and night blowing out the info about this fight, trying to build it up, and these guys, they bitched out! In my opinion Shelly Finkel is what's wrong with boxing.
BT - So what kind of deal is this with King ?
SB - It's a good deal, it's a title shot, and it's depending on the fight being made. It's a great deal, and you know what? A lot of people bash on Don King, but King is a savior for guys like me, John Ruiz, Byrd, Golotta, look at all of the title shots he got these guys. A lot of people have negative things to say about Don King, I am here to talk about the positive things about Don King. Don King came to my rescue when people like Shelly Finkel, and certain people at HBO turned their back on me.
BT - Briggs, Don King may not be perfect but he's also made a lot of poor people into multi millionaires.
SB - I am going to The Don Side (laughs) you know how they got The Dark Side? Well I am going to The Don Side. This is a relationship that they forced on me, and I can't be happier. Don will make me a very wealthy man, and a champion. All of these other people in boxing talking bad about Don King, and you know what? They are ten times worse than Don King. In MY opinion, they are worse they just don't get the publicity that Don King gets. They don't point the finger at these other people, they just don't get the bad publicity.
BT - Is there anything that you would like to say to the fans in closing Shannon ?
SB - I want to say I am a ********** fan, I love **********. I appreciate the support that ********** has given me, I am in the best shape of my life, and I am going to get my Heavyweight Championship. When I do become Heavyweight Champion, I am going to have the biggest party in Time Square on me!
BT - Big Briggs, what is up? What the heck is going on here Briggs?
SB - Well I was really going through a real battle dealing with Shelly Finkel, and The Klitschko's for the last 2 and a half months. I thought we had a deal, we had a verbal agreement, and in Shelly Finkels' words it was 1000 % done. I guess his 1000% is less than 100%, but anyway it was rough because my mind was set on fighting Klitschko, it would have been a great fight. It was a great fight for New York City, and I tell you Brad, this is what's wrong with the state of boxing today, I am not even saying from my standpoint that I am a poor guy, I am looking at the smaller guys. If It wasn't for the fact that I have a powerful team supporting me, my word would have never got out. We sent out over 1000 emails telling people about the deal that was going on, but we were put to the side, and they were telling me that they were talking to Brock, Sultran, and all of these other guys, it was very disrespectful to me, and my team for them to be doing that. In my opinion Brad, Shelly Finkel is what's wrong with boxing.
BT - Briggs so the day just came when you got tired of waiting around, and threw your hands up ?
SB - Well I wanted to sign with Don King for many years now, but the truth of the matter is that I wasn't ready to. This was perfect timing for me because with Don having a piece of Valuev, and Serguei Lyakhovich I feel it was a good thing for him to have an American Heavyweight, and he agreed. People have a lot of negative things to say about Don King, first of all I think it's because he's a black man, and because he's a very successful black man. I hate to pull the race card, but it's a true fact of nature, it's just how it is. Don King has made many champions, and he has made a lot of money for a lot of guys over the years, Tyson, Holyfield, Byrd. The timing is right for me, I am physically ready, and I am an American Heavyweight that can bring home one of the crowns.
BT - Everything happens for a reason Briggs. King having a piece of these Heavyweights in my opinion shortens your path for getting you your title shot, now that the Klitschko fight fell through.
SB - That's for sure, and like I said Brad on my own I came a long way, but I wasn't ready for Don King. Now I am ready, and hopefully he can make me millions of dollars like he's made others. I appreciate this opportunity that Don King has given me to hopefully fight Serguei Lyakhovich on Showtime on November 4th. I am looking forward to it, I feel happy, and like you said Brad, everything happens for a reason. In my opinion, I will say it again, the Shelly Finkels of the world are destroying boxing. There is no union, so there is no one to speak up for the fighters. What bothers me the most about all of this Brad is that they went to Madison Square Garden, and said they had me in a contract, and that's how they got that date. Now he is fighting Brock? Brock's not from New York, how many tickets are they going to sell? They used my name to get to the Garden, I am born and raised in New York City, I used to go watch Wrestling at The Garden back in the 80's. Here we are now years later, and they use my name to lock in a date for the venue, and they don't even use me. Hopefully things will change.
BT - You mentioned the opportunity of possibly fighting Lyakhovich, has Don King told you anything more about this possibility ?
SB - Well right now it's up to Ivailo his manager to accept the deal. It's not really a big money fight for me, it's an opportunity fight for me. I appreciate the opportunity, and I think they have agreed, it's about 95 % percent done. I just want to get in there and bring this belt back to America.
BT - Briggs if you beat the guy, add some zero's to your next purse though (laughs).
SB - Exactly... I think the whole thing behind the Klitschko thing was the fact that I don't think Wlad wanted to fight me anyway. I think HBO and Shelly are trying to protect their champion, if I hit this guy on his chin, it's nighty night for him. I am a sharp shooter, I am a big puncher. I never said that I am the greatest, but I am the latest. If I had that chance, I would have gotten him out of there. They did everything in their power to avoid fighting me and now they are fighting Calvin Brock or Calvin FLOP, who's going to see him in New York? I am curious to see that.
BT - Earlier you mentioned that you didn't think Wladimir wanted to fight you, I read several times where Manny Steward was quoted as saying you were a very dangerous opponent for Wlad.
SB - When you look at Emanuel Steward he is a great trainer, and a great manager. Manny managed a lot of guys over the years and they made a lot of money. Manny knows both ends of the game, and he saw it was a dangerous fight for Wlad, but at the same time he thought Wlad needed a fight against a guy like me. Wlad is a *****, he's not a tough guy, I think Manny knew he needed a fight against a guy like me because IF he could pull it off, it would be great for him, two guys ****ing. Manny knew this, what's Wlad going to do, go in there and blow out Calvin Brock? HBO is trying to protect him, they make him like a giant killer, and he's not, he's a ****in ****.
BT - That's the power of boxing Briggs. (laughs).
SB - Man I got booted off of AOL for sending out too many emails about that fight man (laughs), I have a ******* page also it's http://www.*******.com/briggsboxing I was out there day and night blowing out the info about this fight, trying to build it up, and these guys, they bitched out! In my opinion Shelly Finkel is what's wrong with boxing.
BT - So what kind of deal is this with King ?
SB - It's a good deal, it's a title shot, and it's depending on the fight being made. It's a great deal, and you know what? A lot of people bash on Don King, but King is a savior for guys like me, John Ruiz, Byrd, Golotta, look at all of the title shots he got these guys. A lot of people have negative things to say about Don King, I am here to talk about the positive things about Don King. Don King came to my rescue when people like Shelly Finkel, and certain people at HBO turned their back on me.
BT - Briggs, Don King may not be perfect but he's also made a lot of poor people into multi millionaires.
SB - I am going to The Don Side (laughs) you know how they got The Dark Side? Well I am going to The Don Side. This is a relationship that they forced on me, and I can't be happier. Don will make me a very wealthy man, and a champion. All of these other people in boxing talking bad about Don King, and you know what? They are ten times worse than Don King. In MY opinion, they are worse they just don't get the publicity that Don King gets. They don't point the finger at these other people, they just don't get the bad publicity.
BT - Is there anything that you would like to say to the fans in closing Shannon ?
SB - I want to say I am a ********** fan, I love **********. I appreciate the support that ********** has given me, I am in the best shape of my life, and I am going to get my Heavyweight Championship. When I do become Heavyweight Champion, I am going to have the biggest party in Time Square on me!
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