CountryBox #33 will be headlined by Sergiy Vyacheslavovich Derevyanchenko and feature Shannon Briggs

Opponents for both "The Technician" and "The Cannon" on July 1st are still TBA.

Originally the plan was for Briggs to alternate CountryBox shows with Oliver William "Atomic Bull" McCall en route to a showdown between them on the series near year's end. After the disappointing draw McCall was arguably fortunate to get last night with 7-17-2 late forties cruiserweight Carlos Reyes on CountryBox 32, it may be time for a pivot. McCall still plans to fight until the 40th anniversary of his professional debut (which is coming up in November) but a fight with Briggs has lost most of its luster after his offensive non-effort in the second half against Reyes - which he now blames on a hand injury, but has been suggested might also have to do with a dispute over the bout length with promoters, with McCall believing he'd signed up for a 4- rather than 6-rounder. Next for McCall is believed to be a rematch with Reyes, where he can perhaps vindicate himself - or perhaps embarrass himself further.

Briggs for his part has already spouted off a list of names he claims to have baited on the hook with interest expressed in coming to Nashville to face him in a sort of "heavyweight legends' tour" after this initial rust-shaker. Names such as David Tua (52 years old, last fought in 2013), Jeremy Williams (also 52, also last fought in 2013), Chris Byrd (54 years old, last fought in 2009), and Michael Moorer (57 years old, last fought in 2008) - all of which is to be taken with a grain of salt coming from the borderline carny that Briggs has always been.

Derevyanchenko, now 39, returns to action for the first time in eleven months since the Ukrainian was widely outpointed by Cameroonian-Canadian contender Christian Mbilli. Briggs, now 54, has had a considerably longer layoff - longer even than McCall's five years prior to his CountryBox campaign. "The Cannon" hasn't fought in over nine years.

 

You think he bottled it against Reyes on purpose then?

 

He packed a lot of hard rounds into his eleven year career. I wouldn't be too worried about him taking additional damage in whatever bouts he pursues on CountryBox - they don't really have the budget to feed him anything more than harmless creampuffs, especially if they're having Briggs on the same card. He probably just wants to finish on his own terms with a W or two. Can't see him fighting much beyond our birthday (was today years old when I found out Derevyanchenko and I share one) as he'll be an old 40 in ring years.