How to get WBA title shot. Be 50 years old. Be inactive in the last 2-3 years. Get last win over top-10 opponent 10-15 years ago.
This has to be the worst match up ever for a supposed world title. But from the 2 shitty options I'd say Briggs is more deserving. He's at least fought in the last year unlike Oquendo who won't have fought in almost 3 years by the time of this fight. Briggs has also at least made himself visible on the heavyweight scene through some great self promotion while Oquendo might as well have been officially retired he's been such a non factor.
Briggs, but only because he's at least maintained his activity. His LOC has ALWAYS been shiit, except for in title fights, but at least he has maintained some level of activity, and he has, for what it's worth, sold himself into a shot. Just wish the WBA woulda had roid cheat Ortiz or tainted sample Browne getting the fight vs Briggs instead of old inactive Oquendo.
I'm expecting it to be revealed that Oquendo actually retired 3 years ago and no one told him any of this is happening.
This is mainly down to a legal mess created by having a title fight in Chechnya. As I understand it the winner fights Ustinov. Then the eventual winner will 'unify' against the main WBA champ. It's a mess years and years in the making - maybe going back to Don King's jerking around with Ruiz/Valuev/Chagaev and eventually Haye in the mix. For the sake of clarity in the HW division, this just has to play out, and T Fury has to come back in shape and resolve the speculation one way or another. And Wilder has to eventually fight a unification or at least someone at that level. Ortiz needs to fight for a belt to see where he really is at. Wlad needs to fight his rematch or retire. Haye will probably find some way to push his wagon one more time - so may as well have him fight a top 5 HW just for the sake of it. Then maybe - after all that - there will be someone left standing with all/most the belts. Briggs/Oquendo is just an early part of the equation to run through - so maybe just enjoy the fight for what it is - and have it get itself over and done with. I really hope it's not a draw !
http://boxrec.com/show/749183 Looks like Ustinov is having a stay busy fight against the journeyman TBA. TBA has fought twice so far this year, coming away with a credible KO in both bouts.
