Ex-Heavyweight Challenger Briggs in Pacquiao undercard
By Dennis Principe
09.04 - MANILA, Philippines – Former Heavyweight title challenger Shannon Briggs has agreed to appear in a 10-round non-title fight which will serve as the undercard of Filipino IBF world superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao’s upcoming title defense on June 28.
According to International promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde, he has already reached an agreement with the camp of Briggs through Hawaiian boxing agent Leon Panoncillo.
“This will serve as a big attraction for Pacquiao’s upcoming title fight since it will be the first time for us Filipinos to witness a world-class heavyweight match since Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fought here in their epic Thrilla in Manila” revealed Elorde in an interview.
The 31-year old Briggs (37-4-1, 31 KO’s) is best remembered for beating former two-time Heavyweight champion George Foreman via 10-round majority decision last November 23, 1997.
Nearly four months after sending Foreman into permanent retirement, Briggs had an unsuccessful bid at the WBC heavyweight crown, losing by 5th round technical knockout to defending champion Lennox Lewis.
Elorde added that he is now looking for an American or South African boxer to challenge Briggs, a native of Brownsville, New York.
Meanwhile, Elorde revealed he is now finalizing a deal that will make Pacquiao’s forthcoming defense available on pay-per-view.
Elorde, who refused to reveal the network that will cover the fight, is still finding an opponent which will be acceptable for the said pay-per-view network.
Elorde initially offered a $50,000 purse for former undefeated IBF bantamweight champion Tim Austin to face Pacquiao.
However, the camp of Austin is reportedly having second thoughts of fighting a tough opponent considering that the American boxer is coming off a disastrous 8th round TKO loss to Mexcian Rafael Marquez in a botched title defense two months ago.
Other challengers who have expressed interest in fighting Pacquiao include former WBA champion Antonio Cermeno, ex-WBC challenger Israel Vasquez, ex-WBA ruler Eidy Moya and Alejandro Barrera, cousin of Featherweight king Marco Antonio Barrera.
Elorde added he is looking at the possibility of staging the fight at the Rizal Park (national park) which will again be open to the public.
In making his fourth title defense, Pacquiao is set to earn 10 million pesos ($200,000) in a deal which was recently sealed by Elorde and Pacquiao’s business manager, Rod Nazario.
