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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: SHANNON BRIGGS
By Brad Cooney
B-talk.com sat down with Heavyweight title challenger Shannon Briggs (47-4-41KO), and got his thoughts on his big title fight coming up against current WBO Heavyweight Champion Serguei Lyakhovich (23-1-14KO). This fight is scheduled for November 4th, at Chase Field in Phoenix Arizona. Briggs wants to bring the title back to America and to get what he has long been waiting for, the Heavyweight Championship.
BT - Shannon what's good, it's been a minute since we talked.
SB - Aint nothing Brad, I'm chilling, fight night is approaching and I am feeling great. I am ready to win this title, and bring it back to America.
BT - Shannon how are you feeling, are you relaxed as this big fight approaches ?
SB - Yea, I feel good Brad. I have been here before, and I have more experience than this guy does as far as pro experience. I have been here before, I am older and wiser now, this is a big fight and I am looking forward to it.
BT - You fought Lennox Lewis back in 1998 for the world title, talk about the difference in mindset you have now as opposed to when you fought Lennox.
SB - When I fought Lennox I was just a kid, I wasn't even supposed to be in there. I went into that fight with a broken hand, I was just happy to be fighting for some money. I didn't even really know what it meant to be fighting for the Heavyweight Championship of The World back then. Now it's a different ballgame all together, it means so much more now.
BT - The importance of bringing this title back to America comes into play for you doesn't it Shannon ?
SB - Definitely, definitely, everywhere I go people are telling me 'Yo, you need to bring the belt back to America Shannon'. I'll take the responsibility to bring the title back here where it belongs, to America.
BT - You camp is winding down, how did your camp go Shannon ?
SB - It was a different camp for me this time around. Over the last 5 or 6 years I wasn't getting the right kind of training. This camp I brought in guys like Zuri Lawrence, and David Bostice, and Malcolm Tann. I got over 110 rounds of sparring in, and for me that's unheard of. I haven't had that many rounds of sparring in the last 10 years all together. It was great for me to get that time in the ring, I feel very confident, and strong right now.
BT - Can you comment on Jeff Mayweather's departure from your camp ?
SB - Jeff wasn't a problem, he had some other fighters to work with. Jeff is stil on my team, and he is still my friend. Jeff and I approach this fight a little differently, that's all. We just changed direction a little bit, but Jeff is still on my team.
BT - Who did you bring in to train with you Shannon ?
SB - I brought in Chuck McGreggor, I ran into him like 7 years ago, and we were supposed to work together back then, but it never materialized. we are looking forward to bringing the title back to America.
BT - How do you match up against Lyakhovich ?
SB - I don't see him having a chance in Hell of beating me, I am going to take it to him. I can outbox him, or knock him out, I am going to stay busy. I am going to punch him hard as Hell.
BT - Are you going to run out of gas this time Briggs ?
SB - It was just that I wasn't properly trained over the years, looking back I hardly sparred. I can't even tell you, some fights I won with no sparring at all. I concentrated on sparring this time, and I feel great and running out of gas won't be a problem this time.
BT - What will be the first thing that goes through your mind if your hand is raised at the end of this fight ?
SB - 'FINALLY' , that's what I will be thinking. Then I want to unify the belts, and beat all of those other bums. I am looking forward to bringing the belt back to Brooklyn, back to America.
BT - Shannon we just lost former Heavyweight Champion Trevor Berbick. What are your thoughts on this recent tragedy ?
SB - Yea, I knew Trevor man, he was a nice guy. When Trevor lived in Florida he lived by me, I used to see him in the gym back in 2000 and he used to tell me that if I keep training that I could be champion. Here I am fighting for the Heavyweight Championship, and he won't be here for it, it's sad. It's a sad day for boxing, Trevor was a nice guy.
BT - Briggs you have a huge fight coming up, so I am going to let you go. Do you have some closing thoughts for the ********** readers ?
SB - I know there are some doubters out there, but I am going to prove them all wrong. November 4th is going to be a big night for Shannon Briggs.
By Brad Cooney
B-talk.com sat down with Heavyweight title challenger Shannon Briggs (47-4-41KO), and got his thoughts on his big title fight coming up against current WBO Heavyweight Champion Serguei Lyakhovich (23-1-14KO). This fight is scheduled for November 4th, at Chase Field in Phoenix Arizona. Briggs wants to bring the title back to America and to get what he has long been waiting for, the Heavyweight Championship.
BT - Shannon what's good, it's been a minute since we talked.
SB - Aint nothing Brad, I'm chilling, fight night is approaching and I am feeling great. I am ready to win this title, and bring it back to America.
BT - Shannon how are you feeling, are you relaxed as this big fight approaches ?
SB - Yea, I feel good Brad. I have been here before, and I have more experience than this guy does as far as pro experience. I have been here before, I am older and wiser now, this is a big fight and I am looking forward to it.
BT - You fought Lennox Lewis back in 1998 for the world title, talk about the difference in mindset you have now as opposed to when you fought Lennox.
SB - When I fought Lennox I was just a kid, I wasn't even supposed to be in there. I went into that fight with a broken hand, I was just happy to be fighting for some money. I didn't even really know what it meant to be fighting for the Heavyweight Championship of The World back then. Now it's a different ballgame all together, it means so much more now.
BT - The importance of bringing this title back to America comes into play for you doesn't it Shannon ?
SB - Definitely, definitely, everywhere I go people are telling me 'Yo, you need to bring the belt back to America Shannon'. I'll take the responsibility to bring the title back here where it belongs, to America.
BT - You camp is winding down, how did your camp go Shannon ?
SB - It was a different camp for me this time around. Over the last 5 or 6 years I wasn't getting the right kind of training. This camp I brought in guys like Zuri Lawrence, and David Bostice, and Malcolm Tann. I got over 110 rounds of sparring in, and for me that's unheard of. I haven't had that many rounds of sparring in the last 10 years all together. It was great for me to get that time in the ring, I feel very confident, and strong right now.
BT - Can you comment on Jeff Mayweather's departure from your camp ?
SB - Jeff wasn't a problem, he had some other fighters to work with. Jeff is stil on my team, and he is still my friend. Jeff and I approach this fight a little differently, that's all. We just changed direction a little bit, but Jeff is still on my team.
BT - Who did you bring in to train with you Shannon ?
SB - I brought in Chuck McGreggor, I ran into him like 7 years ago, and we were supposed to work together back then, but it never materialized. we are looking forward to bringing the title back to America.
BT - How do you match up against Lyakhovich ?
SB - I don't see him having a chance in Hell of beating me, I am going to take it to him. I can outbox him, or knock him out, I am going to stay busy. I am going to punch him hard as Hell.
BT - Are you going to run out of gas this time Briggs ?
SB - It was just that I wasn't properly trained over the years, looking back I hardly sparred. I can't even tell you, some fights I won with no sparring at all. I concentrated on sparring this time, and I feel great and running out of gas won't be a problem this time.
BT - What will be the first thing that goes through your mind if your hand is raised at the end of this fight ?
SB - 'FINALLY' , that's what I will be thinking. Then I want to unify the belts, and beat all of those other bums. I am looking forward to bringing the belt back to Brooklyn, back to America.
BT - Shannon we just lost former Heavyweight Champion Trevor Berbick. What are your thoughts on this recent tragedy ?
SB - Yea, I knew Trevor man, he was a nice guy. When Trevor lived in Florida he lived by me, I used to see him in the gym back in 2000 and he used to tell me that if I keep training that I could be champion. Here I am fighting for the Heavyweight Championship, and he won't be here for it, it's sad. It's a sad day for boxing, Trevor was a nice guy.
BT - Briggs you have a huge fight coming up, so I am going to let you go. Do you have some closing thoughts for the ********** readers ?
SB - I know there are some doubters out there, but I am going to prove them all wrong. November 4th is going to be a big night for Shannon Briggs.
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