Briggs had a stretch in the middle of his career where something was off--training, asthma, disinterest, etc. He was better before and after that Fields and McCline stage. I wouldn't ever favor him against that version of McCline, but he put up a non-effort.
Ironically, Briggs scored the biggest late come from behind knockout between the two when he stopped The White Wolf.
It really comes down to who connects first. I would put my money on Briggs but it could really go either way.
I think Shavers it getting a little underrated by some of you :nono, Personally I'd give both guys a fair shot at getting an early knock out, but should the fight go more then two rounds I strongly favor Shavers. Shavers was no bum at all especially at the peak of his career when he challenged Ali and Holmes. I can pretty much picture Shavers taking off Briggs head at any point in the bout. I think the threat of Shavers would really get to Briggs who wasn't the strongest fighter mentally throughout his career and Briggs would tire badly even in the early rounds. Briggs best bet would be to hurt Shavers in the early rounds and finish him off but I think Shavers has just as good a chance as catching Briggs early. If I had to bet I'd take Shavers in a wild fight that ends by the 5th round.
This sounds very plausible. Shavers might not have excelled on the world level but he did enough to put fear in the heart of men. Briggs? Mostly hype with horrible stamina.
roy wiger williams was a big man and weighed over 210 lbs bro and shavers put him out in the last rd ....so dont tell me shavers didnt put out a man who weighed more thenn 210 lbs ..
I already called him out on that. Williams weighed 231 for Shavers. This kid is getting on everyone's last nerve.
Best go look at shavers padded record when he got knocked out by THAT guy with 20 losses he didn't fight ANYONE for years..so idk what your point is?:-( you want to give medals to past top guys who fought smaller guys than that of what Briggs did and he LOST those fights anyway?Yet want to give him the green light on a win here with now a 6'3 250 pounder?atsch
This one would be short and explosive, "styles make fights" I can see both guys laid out. The best bet for Briggs would be to bum rush him like he did everyone early in his what I consider "1st run" prior to D Wilson Briggs is an interesting case being as I'm one of the older guard here and I have watched his entire career. I have every Briggs fight on tape. I own what has to be one of the largest fight collections you can find.. For many, many years in the 80's and 90's I traded with people all over the globe, thanks to those listings in the backs of magazines like Boxing Illustrated back then "fights for sale or trade" I also had a website for quite sometime as well until the powers that be (mainly Showtime network) decided to let me know I'd best stop making fight tapes for people, fair enough. Sorry to get off topic just driving home the point that I am very familiar with both fighters (hell most fighters) The first time I saw Briggs box was when he was smoked in one round at the Pan Am games by Felix Savon. No shame there Savon has plenty of big name scalps. Briggs has fought many different styles over the course of his now very lengthy career. During his 1st run once he stepped up in competition he literally jumped all over his opponents in the opening seconds, and it was working and it could work here as Shavers could be had early see the Quarry fight. But Shavers also had the power to turn Briggs out as well so nothing is for sure. Briggs pretty much quit against Wilson for his first loss, Briggs hurt Wilson early but Wilson was hungry and pushed back and broke Briggs early. I'd seen Wilson a few times and he was a solid tough guy. He'd upset another prospect prior to beating Briggs in James Stanton. But I then remember HBO inviting him back to face Tua and he was iced at the close of round one by a nice short inside left hook by Tua. A good Wilson fight to check out if you've not seen it is Wilson vs Courage Tshabalala. Wilson gets off the deck twice to win by 4th round KO!! The Blue Horizon was rocking!!! Man I'm off topic again. Back to Briggs, so then he switched it up, he "boxed" against George Foreman. Next he attacked Lennox Lewis but clearly at a more measured less reckless pace. And did hurt Lennox a few times but couldn't stand up to what Lewis gave him back. Briggs never really impressed me again for awhile and though I watched his fights he never really registered as a "serious" threat to me. Then the Okine win, then Mercer and then the Liakhovich fight, he fought pretty much as a counter puncher against SL, which he'd slowly began to become in previous fights. Good fight!! Briggs pulled it from the fire literally in the closing moments He would then drop a decision to Ibragimov who was pretty slick. He would take a frightening beating against Vitali Klitschko (claiming an arm injury) but I noticed something over time, his chin had became granite!! Giving more ammo to the fact that he just folded up in some early fights. I'd like to see this fight, my money is on Briggs if he can get it done in the first few rounds if not he will find himself knocked out! But I'm going to assume he takes all his best attributes and wins this one. Though he's not the bigger puncher he's got the better chin and is the more "technically" skilled and polished. Shavers was a bit crude but could really hit. This fight might be like Moorer - Cooper with either Briggs pummeling Shavers ala Quarry or Shavers turning his lights out with a dynamite one punch KO!! But let us assume it's give and take and Shavers breaks first. I'm not sure I even believe what I just wrote but I'm going to go with it.. LETS GO CHAMP!!!