Fighting a Cruiser that couldn't handle Stevenson's power? It's just a BS fight. Briggs has become enough of a sideshow act that it might attract enough money, and at least he's a heavyweight.
Because Briggs has an iron chin and has a massive punch. It means Hayes usual game plan for setting traps and ending a fight in 3 or 4 rounds for an easy nights work is not going to be possible. There is also the danger factor because although Briggs is as slow as fk, it only takes one punch to change the fight and end Hayes comeback to get a big cheque out of AJ. Haye does not like a genuine challenge unless its for a fat cheque (for example, Wlad)
Hayes already been tested by the highly ranked D'Mori and Grajehhargargh in scintillating back and forth battles of attrition
One dived to the floor from a punch that missed and the other looked like a sack of horse poo who was turning up to lose. Real tough competition by Haye- he clearly doesnt believe in himself at HW and is only back to get a fat cheque from AJ and lose and retire.
haye is the flashman of boxing.between getting easily koed and running in fear from a 40something, to outpointing one of the weakest hw titlists in history, hes the personfication of Harry Paget.
To be fair to the Gayeman, Briggs had unreasonable demands. 2 million dollars + a share of the PPV turnover. Yes, Briggs wanted this fight to be on PPV. He knew it would have been the last fight of his career.
You bet your ass, Haye will fight Briggs for the Wba title if he gets past Oquendo. And by that time, Shannon would have had 2 severe asthma attacks, before getting in the ring.