Should Shan the man Biggs get a shot at Vitali?

Why not? Lame as contenders like Austin, Rahman, and Thompson all got shots. Austin's only good fight was a draw against Iggy, Rahman has sucked dick for many years now, getting rocked against Zuri Lawrence and having close win over Sykes, in fight leading up to his showdown with Wlad. Thompson took the Tye Fields route, fighting nobodies for nearly 7 years to stay undefeated. His best win was over Luan Krasniqi, and not even the best version, the one that Brewster knocked out back in late 05.

Briggs is not all that active or has good stamina, but for the first couple rounds he could bang with the best of them. 60% of his wins come by 1st round knockout and I believe he has the most first round KO's for any heavyweight champ over the last 50 years. Briggs defintely has the power to beat Vitali, but can do it? I dont know.

 

Like it or not; Austin and Thompson were mandatories, and Rahman was a fill-in for a mandatory since he was the next highest ranked, and available contender. All of them were also active. Briggs is neither active or ranked. If he makes a come-back, and fights somebody with a pulse first. Then maybe there would be some warranted interest.

 

2 years inactive, coming off a one-sided loss... not good for boxing.

And, no, it wouldn't be a money fight. It'd be the joke it deserves to be (at least the Merchant rant about it happening would be potentially entertaining).

 

I understand that. But that didn't stop guys like Brewster who was 16 months inactive from getting a shot at Wlad's WBO belt the first time back in 04, or in 07 getting another shot at Wlad after coming off a lose against Sergei the fight before and being 15 months inactive coming into the fight. We also can't forget about Sanders getting a shot at Wlad's WBO belt, where he was at a golf course when he got the call to fight Wlad in 03, after beating noone of substance to get that title shot.

I agree, if the division was in good-shape, guys like Briggs wouldn't even be around. Because they would have to fight quality oppenents just to get that shot. But when you have guys coming back off of 3 and a half years of inactivity to win a belt right out the gate, that kinda tells you about how bad of a state the division is in.

 

While Shannon is more deserving than Haye, he is still undeserving based on his recent body of work.

 

no. Vitaly doesn't have much time as an active and competitive fighter so he should choose wisely

 

In the last year and a half, who was SB beat in the top 15? How about he fights Minto frist? I mean they both want a title shot for beating no one. So they should fight each other. Then the winner can wait untill the fight a real top 10 fighter.

 

The first fight with Brewster was for a vacant title. I don't recall the circumstances in the Sanders fight, but seriously, it was just the WBO belt, which by itself is not highly regarded anyways. But we're getting away from the point.

First of all, the OP is about Vitali fighting Briggs, not Wlad. Yes, Vitali returned from a long lay-off to get an instant title shot. But, like it or not, he was the WBA champion emeritus, and that's the way they wanted it. Briggs has no such designation because he did not retire as a champ, as Vitali did, and is therefore afforded no such luxury. ...he didn't even retire, though one might think he has due to his inactivity.

The point is, regardless of how depleted of talent the HW div may be, Briggs is still a less interesting and less worthy opponent than many other guys right now. And even though a few people remember his name, he would still be less of a draw than several potential Euro fighters and even a few American ones. It just doesn't make sense on any level.

 

As a former linear heavyweight champ and bona-fide movie star, surely Briggs could cash in some sort of wacky emeritus status bestowed upon him to get a direct title shot after the long lay-off.

Nah... Briggs may not have earned a shot, but I guess he's as good as anybody else around. Make the fight.

 

I hope so, It would be a real treat to see Shannon back in the ring. None of the K brothers would want to fight him anyway cause Shannon can Whoop ANYONE when he's in shape. ANYONE!

 

This fight would be a carbon copy of the Vitali-Peter fight. Vitali teeing off on an immobile opponent with mediocre defence, while himself getting out of harms way 90% of the time. It would be a good match in that many shots land a likely TKO, but exciting? Not really.... not to mention Briggs has done **** all to deserve it.

 

Have you been listening to that crappy internet radio show or something?

 

Fair enough, my only point was to prove that in this bad era of heavyweights it's fairly common for a fighter to be inacitve for awhile or even undeserving, and still get a title shot. Brewster, Vitali, Austin, Rahman, Holyfield, etc... The list goes on, Briggs is no worse than 4 out of the 5 I mentioned.