Barely he beat Liakhovich, he had the luck of a punch, he lost ugly with Wilson, sedreck fields took him to school .... Nothing more to say .. He lacked courage
He was big and powerful, but he also had terrible stamina and couldn't deliver his power shots against good competition. In what era would he dominate? Maybe in between Jeffries and Johnson, but I still doubt he would be anything else than a top contender then.
It's really not a fair thing to say a fighter lacked courage, and in Briggs case that is false. He went at Lennox Lewis and took a heck of a beating at the hands of Klitschko. Briggs wasn't or great. He did not lack courage. Conditioning, thats another story, but keep in mind that was a problem later in his career. IMO, it actually takes more courage to fight out of your prime, which Briggs did frequently vs punchers.
I'd give him a real puncher's chance from 1900-2020, meaning I would not expect him to win, but he sure could. Off the top of my head I'd pick him over Hart, Willard, half of the 1930's champions, Ingo, Patterson, both Spinks brothers, and Moorer.
Botha beat the breaks off Briggs , one fight after he was slept in 5 rounds by Mike Tysons ghost. Briggs lost 11 rounds to Liakhovich before pulling a bunny out of a hat.. You're only propping up Briggs because he's a title defence for Vitali Klitschko.
Anybody can win in HW by puncher's chance, but Briggs isn't good enough to be dominant in any era. I haven't seen anything from Hart, so I can't comment (his resume is better) and Willard is 50-50 fight. Half of the 1930s champions? Like who? Ingo - I can't see it, Ingo hit too hard and was much better boxer. Patterson? Come on, Floyd would toy with him, Briggs wasn't Liston. Michael Spinks would make him look like a fool. Moorer was better fighter and he looked far better against better version of Foreman.
Frequently?? In 25 years of career 70 fights only fought Vitali, Lennox, sultan and Liakhovich.. He was clearly scared against Foreman
Yep. Outside his top 3 victories his resume is awful and i figured if he couldn't be bothered beating decent opponents, I couldn't be bothered figuring out which if his low level opponents were better than the others.
Yes, and if Mendoza thinks Briggs' size would be a huge factor against smaller Patterson, Johansson, Spinks and Moorer, why then he was demolished by Darroll Wilson (who was even smaller and far, far inferior fighter comparing to those guys) or schooled by Sultan Ibragimov, who was hardly bigger than Moorer or Spinks?
Briggs: Foreman (controversial) Liakovich Mercer Calloway Rafael Zumbano Awful and really after ancient Mercer you can pick any two tomato cans this guy fought. He was Wilder before Wilder In terms of competition
Well Ibragimov was a very good fighter with speed, power and a top level chin. Briggs was erratic for sure but this is heavyweight boxing where the size disparity and power disparity is greatest. I absolutely do think Briggs could KO and would likely beat the names I mentioned. He often bounced smaller guys quick out quickly. Ibragimov wasn't that small. ie, he has 20-30 pounds on Paterson, Ingo and Spinks. Moorer was nearly Ko'd by Bert Cooper, and waxed in 1 by Tua who isn't even in Briggs zip code as a boxer. Yes- I do think Briggs could knock him out.
I get where you are going but Briggs actually fought top talent. Wilder aside from Fury did not. IMO Briggs resume > Wilder.