06.04.05 – By Tony Nobbs: With the biggest fight’s of their lives coming up next month top rated contenders Paul Briggs and Anthony Mundine provided each other with intense sparring behind closed doors at a gym in a backstreet of Miami on the Gold Coast last week. Three sessions of five, seven and eight rounds left those in attendance impressed and giving applause as the pair went at it, both having their “on” days.
“He can definitely win” said Briggs referring to former champ Mundine’s WBA super middleweight title clash with Denmark’s highly regarded title holder Mikkel Kessler in Sydney on May 11.
“It’s going to be a hard fight for him but if fights smart he can beat the guy. I saw Kessler train in LA he is very strong. Choc can’t afford to be lazy for a second, or sit on the ropes. Choc is really starting to come on now, he is dangerous in the way that he can catch you with punches you don’t see. He is fast.
He is definitely sharper than when we sparred before (last August). A problem he has is you can see he tries to fight like Roy Jones, and if he is not on top of his game, you can make him miss and make him pay. He has to stay tight and use his jab”.
Briggs, who departs for the US on Friday, can’t wait for his crack at the vacant WBC light heavyweight title on May 21 in Chicago against Poland’s Thomas Ademack, a shot, which all Australian fight fans will agree, is long over due.
“I’m really looking forward to it and coming home and showing you my belt” he said.
“It’ll be great just to get back over there and get back into camp. My serious work will start then. We go to Chicago first for the press conference and then go straight to Big Bear. Last week was good to get under my belt, good for speed and to sharpen me up and I’ve got my sparring partner waiting for me in the States. I’ve already spoken to Jack (Mosley) a couple of times this morning and can’t wait to get there and start to rock and roll.”
What does Briggs expect from the unbeaten Pole?
“From what I have seen, this is going to be one of the hardest fights I have had. He is well schooled.
Technically he is sound, I will have to work on ways to beat him. It’s not going to be easy but they never are. I look at his record and I just don’t think he has fought the guys I have and he definitely hasn’t fought someone like me!”
In closing. After watching the final session between Mundine and Briggs on Friday, don’t be surprised to see Australia with two more world champion’s at the start of June.