24.04.06- By James Slater: Shannon Briggs had just controversially beaten heavyweight phenomenon George Foreman. He had beaten the ageless wonder on a controversial and highly debatable decision. A decision that caused so much anger it was the subject of an official senate investigation. The verdict stuck, however, and in the fight that turned out to be the final ring appearance of Big George, Shannon lifted the linear heavyweight championship. And while it was true that not a lot of people would have listed him as the best big man on the planet, he had stood up to Foreman’s punches well and used his fast hands to scrape home for his points win. And in the age old saying, he had beaten the man who had beaten the man. Still, the man Shannon fought in his next fight had a lot more people on his side when HE claimed to be the best heavyweight in the world. That man was Lennox Lewis, and he held the WBC belt. Now the two would meet, with the hope for a clearer picture atop the heavyweight ladder. Of course, Evander Holyfield had still more supporters on his side (he held the WBA and IBF versions of the championship) than either Shannon or Lennox, but the ideal plan was for the winner between these two to then face Evander and, hey presto – an undisputed heavyweight champion!
Michael Buffer did his usual stuff and Briggs and Lewis awaited the bell for round one. The crowd at Caesars in Atlantic City were treated to a very entertaining fight. Briggs came out fast and used his jab well. Lennox also opened up quickly and it was clear both men meant business. Shannon was the busier overall in the first though and once again in a fight his fast hands provided his opponent with problems. Then, near the end of the round, the fireworks started. Briggs caught Lewis with a left hook to the head and Lennox was in trouble. He stumbled back into the ropes and it’s possible that only these kept him upright. Shannon tore after him and landed some more head shots. Lennox had a surprised look on his face as he had to take these. He was definitely stunned. Then Briggs cracked him with a shot to the back of the head and Lewis staggered into a corner. Briggs again chased after him but there wasn’t sufficient time left in the round to land any more hurt. It had been a big round for Shannon.
Round two was a good one for him too. Lennox looked somewhat sluggish and keen to initiate clinches. The jab of Briggs was snapping out very effectively, with the occasional right hand following it. Whenever Lennox landed his own right hand Shannon shook his head in a gesture of defiance. He had already proved to many people that he was a better fighter than he was given credit for being. His stock had dropped massively when he’d been stopped in three rounds by Darroll Wilson in his only defeat but Shannon blamed the loss on asthma. He certainly looked a much more focused and dangerous boxer tonight. The bell ended round two and again Briggs won the session.
Lennox finally got into a rhythm in the third, as he fired out his own jab with power. He also began to have more success with his big right. And although Shannon continued to indicate how unimpressed he was with the punch, he could not keep on taking it so regularly without suffering the consequences. Lewis looked an altogether different fighter in this round and his stamped authority on the bout won him his first three minutes.
Round four, and some incredible action unfolded! Both men grinned at one another as they sat and awaited the bell but it was Lewis who gained the upper hand first. He came out very fast and smashed a hard right into Briggs’ head that staggered him badly and after a follow-up attack he dropped another sledgehammer on the head of Shannon that dumped him in a corner. Briggs bravely beat the count at six and Lennox went back after him. The end looked imminent but there was more drama still to come! With Lennox looking winded and a touch punched-out, Shannon attempted to fight back. To the delight of the crowd he had some success and the two slugged it out in ring centre. A tired looking Lewis completely dropped his hands as Briggs opened up but then he fired in a sharp left/right combination that felled the man from Brooklyn for a second time. Again he beat the count and with only a few seconds left in the round he made it to the bell. What a round the two big heavyweights had given us though. Some truly great action!
Before the bout Shannon had said a fight with Lennox would be a veritable walk in the park. As he went out for round five he surely was not thinking at all along those lines! It had been a very tough night already, for both men. Briggs came out fast as an opened mouthed Lewis looked weary. But, after a brief burst by Shannon, Lewis’ jab whipped back into life. Briggs was soon being punished again and he really had to take some shots. They fell into a clinch and a much needed breather was taken by the pair of them. When they were separated by referee Frank Cappuccino a huge right to the head by Lennox sent Shannon to the canvas for a third time. On this occasion he looked to be totally out, yet incredibly, he beat the count again! Briggs was showing immense heart. He had nothing much left though, and he was pounded around the ring as Lennox tried to finish him off for good. The ending itself was strange. As Briggs let loose with a leaping left he fell off balance and hit the mat. It was enough for Cappuccino, who was perhaps taking into account the previous punishment Briggs had taken seconds prior to the fall, to stop the fight. Lennox lifted his massive arms and celebrated a victory that had been far harder to earn than he could have imagined beforehand.
Lennox was now the linear champion and as such the fight with Evander Holyfield simply had to happen. We had to wait another year before it did though and unfortunately when the two did finally clash we were deprived of a universally recognised champ due to a quite disgraceful draw. Lennox had clearly won and in an immediate rematch he was rightfully awarded the victory and we had an undisputed world heavyweight champion.
Shannon’s career was to carry on in a most up and down fashion and he is still fighting today. In fact, many people seem to think he has yet to reach his full potential. He certainly showed a lot of potential on the evening of March the 28th 1998, and it is a shame he was unable to build on such a fine effort. He is only thirty four today though which is a reasonably young age for a heavyweight in modern times, and one shouldn’t bet against him earning and winning a big fight (or fights) in the near future.
If he can still perform today with as much courage and fire as he did against Lewis, another title may become his yet.