A fun fight between two huge punchers... Briggs was quicker and more athletic but Smith had the edge in stamina and durability... There was really two versions of Briggs: the earlier version who weighed about 225 and the massive version later on who was about 260 and recently tested positive for a banned substance... Briggs and his manager claim that it is from an asthma medication... Neither of these men had what one would call a high workrate but they sure could punch.... Let's say the Bonecrusher of 1986 who kayoed Weaver and Witherspoon in one round apiece against the Cannon that took out Lyakovitch in the 12th in 2006.
As you say the edge in stamina and durability would probably be a factor in this one late. I could see any possible scenario happening in this fight though.
Was thinking about this matchup yesterday. Glad to have found this old thread. I have Bonecrusher weathering an early storm to stop a gassed Briggs in the mid-late rounds. Fun fight while it lasts though.
Briggs would win by KO after a few scary moments. You can look at their biggest fights vs ATGs to get a better sense. Smith fought to survive vs Tyson, whereas Briggs laid it all on the line vs Lewis and went out on his sheild, even rocked Lewis a couple times in that fight. He's got more dog in him, more fire in the belly
Bonecrusher manifestly has better stamina. Punch is debatabe. Both enigmatic chins, sometimes granite, and sometimes not. Neither are scientific wizards, and it is hard to come up with any significant style advantages. My guess is that Bonecrusher outworks him over 12. By, nothing to do with the topic, but I really like Bonecrusher as a person. Boxing could use more like him.
What I think too. Briggs wasn't scared to lay it on the line. He got beaten to a pulp against Vitali and he was still trying. The dude was legit imho.
Great slugfest, but ultimately Smith knocks the crap out of him. Briggs gets knocked down several times and is semi-conscious when the ref calls it off. 4 rounds.
Which version of Briggs are we talking about? Because, according to some on here (especially, VK fans) the 2010 version was legendary - few would get past him.