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Exclusive Interview: Shannon Briggs
By Ryan ********
9-18-06
I recently caught up with Shannon Briggs outside of Gallagher's Steakhouse in Manhattan. Briggs, 47-4-1 (41 KO), was in town to promote his upcoming title fight with Sergei Lyakhovich. The Brownsville, Brooklyn native was very excited about the prospects of another title shot at this stage of his career, knowing it may be his last.
********: What happened with the Klitschko fight, why did that not come through?
Briggs: "I'm not sure. They had their mind set on Maskaev and they didn't want to fight me because I'm a dangerous puncher. They didn't want to get him knocked out in New York City. He's a guy without a great chin, so I don't think they wanted to put it to the test with me."
********: Which fight do you think was tougher, Wladimir Klitschko or Sergei Lyakhovich?
Briggs: "This is the tougher fight. I think that this guy mixes it up different than Klitschko. Klitschko is definitely the stronger fighter as far as offense. But again, we know his china chin is his worst enemy."
********: What is the weight that you want to enter the ring at?
Briggs: "Wherever I feel good at. I'm not going to put the pressure on myself. I'm eating well, I'm training at altitude, what can you do? I'm not going to sweat that I'm a grown man. That's why this is a great time for me because I'm 34 years old. You got a guy like Mike Tyson, he's a freak of nature. He hit his prime early. He was shorter than me, he must've hit his puberty early. I'm a late bloomer. My experience, being focused all these years since '92. It set in. I matured late. So here I am, 34 years old coming into my own."
********: How are you going to approach this fight differently than your previous big fights?
Briggs: "I'm not, I'm just going to be in great shape and maturity. I'm older and stronger, that's it."
********: Do you think your recent opposition has prepared you for this fight?
Briggs: "Yeah, it doesn't matter. I've been training consistently. That was the biggest key with Shannon Briggs. Staying in consistent training. That's what I've been doing for the last couple of years."
********: Tell the fans why you are going to win this fight.
Briggs: "Because I'm hungry, I'm starving. This is my time. I got no other choices, this is it."
********. Lyakhovich showed great stamina in the later rounds against Brewster. If the fight goes deep, do you think you can keep up with the champ in the later rounds?
Briggs: "Definitely. That's why I'm training in Colorado. I'm prepared mentally. I'm doing all of that. If it's a late round, that's fine. But I'm looking for the knockout."
********: Is this the most important fight of your career?
Briggs: "Yeah, definitely by far. This is it. You can't look back at the past, the Foreman fight, the Lewis fight. This is today, this is it. I'm 34 years old now, and this is my time."
********: Klitschko will be facing Brock next. What are your thoughts on that fight?
Briggs: "It could be interesting if Brock can get past his jab to get inside. If he can't, he's going to take a beating from the outside."
********: Is there anything you would like to say to the fans?
Briggs: "I want to thank them for the support. Watch me become WBO Heavyweight champ on November 4."
Any questions or comments? Send them to me at mc_rson@yahoo.com . My ******* address is http:/www.*******.com/asian_sensation201 . My website is http://www.boxingscene.com/ryan******** .
By Ryan ********
9-18-06
I recently caught up with Shannon Briggs outside of Gallagher's Steakhouse in Manhattan. Briggs, 47-4-1 (41 KO), was in town to promote his upcoming title fight with Sergei Lyakhovich. The Brownsville, Brooklyn native was very excited about the prospects of another title shot at this stage of his career, knowing it may be his last.
********: What happened with the Klitschko fight, why did that not come through?
Briggs: "I'm not sure. They had their mind set on Maskaev and they didn't want to fight me because I'm a dangerous puncher. They didn't want to get him knocked out in New York City. He's a guy without a great chin, so I don't think they wanted to put it to the test with me."
********: Which fight do you think was tougher, Wladimir Klitschko or Sergei Lyakhovich?
Briggs: "This is the tougher fight. I think that this guy mixes it up different than Klitschko. Klitschko is definitely the stronger fighter as far as offense. But again, we know his china chin is his worst enemy."
********: What is the weight that you want to enter the ring at?
Briggs: "Wherever I feel good at. I'm not going to put the pressure on myself. I'm eating well, I'm training at altitude, what can you do? I'm not going to sweat that I'm a grown man. That's why this is a great time for me because I'm 34 years old. You got a guy like Mike Tyson, he's a freak of nature. He hit his prime early. He was shorter than me, he must've hit his puberty early. I'm a late bloomer. My experience, being focused all these years since '92. It set in. I matured late. So here I am, 34 years old coming into my own."
********: How are you going to approach this fight differently than your previous big fights?
Briggs: "I'm not, I'm just going to be in great shape and maturity. I'm older and stronger, that's it."
********: Do you think your recent opposition has prepared you for this fight?
Briggs: "Yeah, it doesn't matter. I've been training consistently. That was the biggest key with Shannon Briggs. Staying in consistent training. That's what I've been doing for the last couple of years."
********: Tell the fans why you are going to win this fight.
Briggs: "Because I'm hungry, I'm starving. This is my time. I got no other choices, this is it."
********. Lyakhovich showed great stamina in the later rounds against Brewster. If the fight goes deep, do you think you can keep up with the champ in the later rounds?
Briggs: "Definitely. That's why I'm training in Colorado. I'm prepared mentally. I'm doing all of that. If it's a late round, that's fine. But I'm looking for the knockout."
********: Is this the most important fight of your career?
Briggs: "Yeah, definitely by far. This is it. You can't look back at the past, the Foreman fight, the Lewis fight. This is today, this is it. I'm 34 years old now, and this is my time."
********: Klitschko will be facing Brock next. What are your thoughts on that fight?
Briggs: "It could be interesting if Brock can get past his jab to get inside. If he can't, he's going to take a beating from the outside."
********: Is there anything you would like to say to the fans?
Briggs: "I want to thank them for the support. Watch me become WBO Heavyweight champ on November 4."
Any questions or comments? Send them to me at mc_rson@yahoo.com . My ******* address is http:/www.*******.com/asian_sensation201 . My website is http://www.boxingscene.com/ryan******** .
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