25.04.06 – By Laz Izada: This afternoon in Midtown Manhattan at the popular Palm West Restaurant the press conference for Cedric Kushner’s new “Gotham Boxing” series was held. The first card named “The Premier” will take place on May 24th at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan. The featured main attraction will be a heavyweight matchup between power punching knockout artist Shannon Briggs 46-4-1(40 KO’S) versus Chris Koval 20-3(18 KO’S) from Youngstown, Ohio. The winner will take home the Vacant USBA Heavyweight Title. Briggs a native of Brooklyn has already captured two U.S. Heavyweight Titles, the NABA, and the NABO versions..
He is also on a streak of 10 KO’s in a roll. Briggs is currently ranked # 6 WBO, # 7 WBC, # 10 IBF, and # 11 WBC. Koval a formable opponent last year went the distance and knocked down 6’7” Ukrainian Alexander Dimitrenko 20-0(12 KO’S), WBO # 11. While losing by unanimous decision, it will be interesting to see how he does against Briggs.
Briggs, which has been staying active fighting often and steadily climbing up the rankings, in quest of another heavyweight Championship feels that in his recently new trainer Jeff Mayweather he has the final piece of the puzzle to be a world champion again. They both “hit it off well and have the right chemistry” together. Mayweather “feels that it’s the perfect journey, that everything happens for a reason”. They both feel that now is their time.
Shannon at the presser stated that his endurance has been questionable in the past that “it is no longer a problem”. That he is “working out harder than ever in the gym”, Mayweather told me that Shannon is putting in the work in the gym and he won’t be tired.
Mayweather and Briggs and many in the fight game believe that Shannon is the strongest puncher in the division. I asked Shannon about his impressions about the Wlad Klitschko-Byrd fight and he said that he “enjoyed watching it and that he is ready for Klitschko now.” Mayweather feels that Shannon is “bigger, stronger, and faster than Klitschko” and that Wlad would have a very tough time. HBO’s Larry Merchant on the telecast said that “Klitschko did not face a puncher in Byrd” that maybe he would have had a tougher time against a puncher.
Shannon told me said that he hasn’t “missed a beat since Jeff came in”. He has been “working hard all along” He feels comfortable with Jeff; it’s that last piece he has needed to take him to the top. Mayweather said that he “has got him trying new different things, that he hasn’t tried before and are working successfully”.
Briggs ultimate goal this time around is to bring one or all of the belts from Eastern Europe back to the United States and the capital of the world New York City. He would also like to surpass Klitschko 41 KO’s,Holmes 44 KO’s, and Tyson 44Ko’s .He currently has 40 KO’S. Now with Mayweather in his corner he is on the right track to accomplish these goals.