Boxing

PAUL BRIGGS INTERVIEW: "AUSTRALIA CAN BE A FORCE IN BOXING!"


Photo: www.paulbriggs.mainpage.net

By Tony Nobbs

16.07 - Ever since linking with mentor Rod Waterhouse at the end of 1999, the 27 year old 'Hurricane' has endeavoured to storm through the best opposition available. Turning pro at eighteen, he debuted by outpointing former Commonwealth Title Challenger Ronald Doo over ten rounds, his first fight under Waterhouse was a seven round TKO of Mosese Sorovi, the ex OPBF Cruiserweight Champion who had KO'd 20 opponents and had been twelve rounds with then IBF no. 4 Glenn Kelly two months previous.

Seventeen wins and three Titles later, Briggs, now WBC no. 2 is sanctioned to meet former World Title Challenger Clinton Woods in an official WBC Lt Heavyweight eliminator. The bout was originally scheduled for August 30 in Manchester, England but fell through after a dispute between promoter Frank Warren and the WBC.

Woods' camp, who lost the purse bid to Warren in Los Angeles offices of the WBC on June 19, will now stage the bout with the date still to be confirmed, as of press time. Since losing to Roy Jones in six rounds last September, the 6'2, 31 year old Woods has scored three inside the distance wins, the most recent a June 10, seven round TKO over Demetrius Jenkins, known to Australian fans for a five round win over Pierre Karam in 2000. Gold Coast based Briggs' last start was a unanimous ten round decision over former WBA Middleweight Champion Jorge Castro on April 13, a fight which was also given official elimination status. The winner of Briggs - Woods will challenge Champion Antonio Tarver. Briggs' record is 20-1, 16 KO while Woods, now trained by former Heavyweight Champion 'Terrible' Tim Witherspoon stands at 35-2, 21 KO. Briggs and Waterhouse took time to talk to Eastside on July 14.

Eastside: Paul, how has the change in date and promotional rights affected you?

Paul Briggs: I'm used to the chop and changes. We are happy the WBC have mandated this fight, he has to fight me. I'm ready to go now. I boxed seventeen rounds in the gym the other day. I'm more than fit.

ESB: You chased a fight with Woods long before he fought Jones, as you did with Glenn Kelly. Were you surprised he tried to use his no.1 WBC rating to challenge Antonio Tarver before he faced you?

PB: Not really! His advisors aren't that silly as to expect this one to be easy. They have been for a long time ware that we have been chasing him. Better to have a shot than to fight me and possibly never have a chance at the Light Heavy Title. It's a fight that has to happen and the new situation has opened up so many possibilities. Tarver is considering a fight with Julio Gonzales on the De la Hoya - Mosley card on September 13. I have a new management company looking after me-On Sports- headed by Geoffrey Shucraft and it has given them more time to promote the fact I'm fighting over there. It will really improve my profile, get me more known in the mainstream.

ESB: After the Castro fight you took a break. Have your batteries been re charged or what?

PB: Yeah. The break was awesome. I just can't wait to get to the gym. My new baby daughter, Aramea, is really good. She is sleeping good, no late nights and I'm really focused on this fight.

ESB: Give us your opinion of Tarver.

PB: He does a good job but I believe I do it better.

ESB: Before the Castro fight, much was made of the fact Jorge gave Vasily Jirov a hard fight fourteen months before. When you won the IBF Pan Pac Cruiser Title against current WBA no.7 Dan Rowsell in 2000, you were eyeing a shot at Jirov. That is part of the Paul Briggs persona- you want to fight the best. How do you think that fight would've resulted back then?

PB: Who knows? Anything is possible. I believe I can beat the best at Lt. Heavy then move up or down a division if required. 168 lbs is a possibility given six weeks notice.

ESB: Dariusz Michalczewski. I remember you told me in the gym early last year that you dreamt you knocked him out in seven rounds. Do you think that fight will ever happen?

PB: Anything is possible but time may become a problem. Darius is not getting any younger and you have to knock em out in Germany to get a draw.

ESB: Your sparrng partner Danny Green challenges Markus Beyer for the WBC 168 lb Title in Germany on August 16. Give us your thoughts.

PB: It's a big step but Danny has a chance. Because Beyer is a southpaw and Danny has an awesome right hand and left hook. And Danny puts pressure on you. Beyer's nothing special but I'd hate it if Danny lost a dodgy decision. It'd be awesome if he can do it, great for Australian boxing. We are going over to support him and will miss the Mundine - Echols fight. That will also be big if Mundine can win, great for boxing here. I don't think much of Echols as a top fighter but don't know if Anthony has had the preparation or fights. I'd have loved to have gone and sparred him, it'd have benefited both of us. I look at him sometimes and think if he really gritted his teeth he could be an awesome fighter. I'd really like him to win and be a humble Champion and get the Australian public behind him. Be a World Champion boxer and show he's a World Champion person. I'd love to see Danny, Anthony, Hussy (Hussein), Vic (Darchinian) and all our guys win Titles and stand along with Kostya. We have the ability to be a force in boxing. I can't believe how other fighters think they are superior. Look at Woods. He says I'm over here fighting nobodies. But I beat Castro and he is fighting the blokes Castro knocked out. Before he fought Jones he fought no one and he hasn't fought anyone since. And Tarver's acting like he's so much better than everyone else. The experience i got out of the Jorge Castro fight is unbelievable. I'm really starting to feel like a World Champion.

ESB: Another Gold Coast boxer, Nathan Sting won the WBU Bantamweight Title last week.

PB: Yeah! That was great. I've always thought he was an awesome boxer who didn't get the recognition. For the lighter weight boxers it is hard to get noticed in Australia but he kept at it.

ESB: Tell us about your stay in the U.K in 2001 and your stint with Freddie Roach in the U.S later that year.

PB: We went over to England to just test the waters and see what time we need for acclimatization and such. When we went to America it was to fight and get the ball rolling over there. We trained at Freddie's Wildcard gym along side Michael Moorer, Manny Pacquiou and Julio Gonzales. We had sparring booked with Gonzales but he never rocked up. Maybe a good thing considering the circumstances.

ESB: Your personality outside the ring is completely different to your warrior mentality inside the ropes. One thing that stands out is your loyalty to Rod. You were offered lucrative deals in the U.S but you chose to stay with Rod. What does Rod mean to you?

PB: We begun this journey together and will finish it together. We are constantly together training and we have a great personal relationship outside boxing. It's never boring!

ESB: Rod, you took young Russell Sands from a prelim boy to an Australian Champion who was two fights away from a World Title shot when he was tragically killed in 1987. Tell us how Russell and Paul's success compares.

Rod Waterhouse: Russell Sands was a great kid who had a lot of potential, he had his career stopped due to a accident earlier in his career and then of course the accident that killed him. It took plenty out of me personally and I vowed to never have anything to do with the fight game again. The reason being you just get to closely attached to your fighters. Paul inspired me to do something again that I truly love. Paul's career is moving along at a good pace and comparing both fighters is difficult. Different era's, different personalities and different opportunities.

ESB: When you took over Paul's career you started of on Bill Mordey's monthly Fox shows. Craig Mordey and Brian Mills helped out in the final stages of the Castro show, which you promoted yourself. What affect has the Mordey's departure had on the Aussie fight scene?

RW: In one word, HUGE! They were the best in the caper in Oz.

ESB: Rod, tell us what you have seen in Woods now he is training with Tim Witherspoon.

RW: He's improved. But you can't teach an old dog too many new tricks.

ESB: Paul, what was your Kick Boxing record?

PB: 54-5 with 39 ko's. I won State, national, Regional and World Titles. My opponents were from all over the world and I fought them in their own countries. This is one reason fighting outside Australia doesn't bother me, I've been doing it my whole life.

ESB: Compare the two sports.

PB: It's like squash and tennis. You use a racquet and ball but the games are totally different. KB or Muay Thai are much more brutal than boxing. Getting kicked in the legs, elbowed in the face, kneed in the guts and hips not to mention the ones to your head and nuts compared to punched about the body and head. Mentally boxing is easier to handle. Less weapons to concentrate on but technically harder because you only have your hands to attack and defend yourself with.

ESB: You started boxing as a youngster. What made you concentrate on KB as a teenager?

PB: I never fought as an amateur. As a young teen my fights were in tents and tough man contests. The reason I never boxed competitively early was my mother thought it dangerous with getting brain damage. But getting crippled was OK. Crazy! Anyhow the wheel has turned and I'm doing what I wanted back when I was a kid.

ESB: Tell us about your only loss as a boxer. Larl Zada on January 4, 1997.

PB: This is a fight I took whilst still kick boxing and really at the end of my KB career. I wasn't interested in training or getting fit but decided to have a fight anyway due to my inflated ego. Hence you learn a valuable lesson, don't train and you get smashed!

ESB: While Rod is the boss, 'Team Fistic Fury' have other important members.

PB: Yes. Richard Walsh does my pad work and Brian Berry works on my speed and gives a great massage. It's a team deal!

ESB: Describe an average day for Paul Briggs.

PB: Eat, sleep and train! Two sessions a day, five hours in total.

ESB:Finally, any message for your fans?

PB: Thanks for your support and I will bring the Title back to Oz when I get the opportunity.

Eastside thank Paul and Rod for their time and wish them every success.

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