Emanuel Steward: Briggs will be the toughest fight of Vitali's career

I didn't say Vitali's old ass against Briggs's young ass. My point is that you know something big and bad is coming for Vitali if he keeps fighting (his contract says he will) and this just could be the huge upset we all know is coming.

 

Vitali had a few years of complete rest so he's a "young" 39, especially given that he's never really out of shape.

Briggs could age suddenly just as easily as Vitali in this fight. And Briggs has abused his body, ballooned up to 350 pounds, etc., making it more likely with him.

 

I agree, this is a trap fight for Vitali, Briggs comes in as the underdog. Obviously. Good points.

 

Stop the hype. Briggs is extremely over rated. He hasn't beaten a top guy since his lucky win over Lyakhvich, in a fight he was totally losing. His showing against Ibragimov was pathetic. Briggs has no business being in the top 10 and this title shot is pure charity on Vitali's part, a safe defense if you will. Sosnowski was on a bigger roll than Briggs when he got his shot agaist Vitali. Don't let the size fool you, Briggs' resume sucks. Answer this: Aside from the lucky win over Lyakhovich, who has Briggs beaten (transformers dont count)? By any objective standard a guy like Jameel McCline (to whom Briggs lost btw) has a better resume, so to put things in perspective, there's no reason why people would give Briggs more chance to win than McCline.

 

25/2 here on ESB :deal
http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=258832

place your vbet :good

 

Wow, those are some really tough words there jerkoff............... :rofl

 

Who the **** do you think you're talkin' to douche bag? Sounds to me like you have some sexual indentity issues that you need to get worked out. :hi:

 

Yeah, I don't know what is with some of the people who type stuff like this ... as has been said many times, anyone can sit behind a keyboard and cuss and swear and insult and play the tough guy. Doing so only makes one look bad and takes the force out of any legit arguments one may be trying to make. I'd love to see what some of these "tough guys" look like in "real life."

 

I kind of agree with steward. The first half of the fight will be interesting, but after that I think vitali will win by tko. Vitali circa 2003-2004 would have won by tko in the first few rounds or so.

 

There's truth in what you say, but if Briggs is focused and in-shape he is still about as dangerous as anyone else Vitali could have found to fight right now (who was willing to get in the ring with him, anyway). Another anonymous Sosnowski or Johnson wasn't in the cards ... Briggs still has a public profile and this fight is generating good interest because of it.

 

I'd be staggered if this turned out to be Vitali's toughest fight. Maybe Briggs will give him a bit of trouble for a round or two but then Vitali will do what he does - lay a steady beating on him en route to a tko win.

 

There is way too much whingeing going on about this fight ... hey, Vitali and Lennox only went a few rounds, but it is still talked about constantly ... if we get a few rounds of fireworks, this could be a classic, or at least one of the better HW bouts we've seen in quite some time.

Why not be optimistic until proven wrong?

 

I hear ya.

I've always said I like Shannon Briggs as a fighter & a person. He's a really funny guy & I think he'd have a good shot as a commentator when he retires from the ring.

I did say I thought it was beyond lame that he pulled the race card against Sergei Liakhovich in a sad attempt to sell more tickets. Seems like he's doing the same against Vitali with this new asthma thing............

I actually argued a bit with him on the front page posts a while back...........he still made me laugh.

I always said he'd be a tough fight for Vitali or Wlad because he has fast, heavy hands. Not that I would expect him to win, but he sure wouldn't be a walkover either.