Briggs on Come Back “He Think’s He See’s Somezing”

By: Ethan Doutney (SBB)
Former WBO Heavyweight Champion Shannon "The Cannon" Briggs, 48-5-1, 42Ko’s has started his comeback and it appears to be the Klitschko’s he has his eyes on.

Fighting pro since 1992 “The Cannon” jumped into the boxing main sights winning his first seventeen including a first round stoppage of Jimmy Ellis. Then going on to win his first twenty five bouts twenty by stoppage, Briggs suffered his first set back, a third round TKO loss to
then unbeated Darroll Wilson.

Briggs regrouped three months later starting a five fight win streak the last being a majority decision victory over “Big” George Foreman November 1977. Beating Foreman paved the way to a March 1998 title shot with WBC Champion Lennox Lewis only to suffer another set back but not before rocking the champion in the opening round only to have him hang on and drop “The Cannon” three times enroute to a fifth round TKO loss.

Briggs would return again this time in shaky fashion having various degrees of success stopping Marcus Rhodes in one, battle “The White Buffalo” Francois Botha to a draw August 1999, then stop Warren Williams in three only to lose a majority decision to a .500 Sedreck “Big Buck” Fields 9-9, April 2000.

Looking as if he had gotten on track winning four straight by Ko Briggs would slip again hitting the deck while losing a one sided decision to Jameel McCline, April 2002.

“The Cannon” then zeroed himself in putting together a run of twelve straight wins by stoppage, including a seventh round TKO win over Ray Mercer August 2005 and a 12 round Ko of Sergey Lyakhovich winning the WBO Heavyweight Title only to lose it to Sultan Ibragimov by way of a twelve round unanimous decision seven months later.

After a two and a half year absence Briggs returned looking in superb conditioned and appearing focused “The Cannon” blasted out veteran Marcus McGee in the opening round of their scheduled eight rounder only to have the fight changed to a no contest after testing tested positive for a banned substance in a post fight testing. Briggs camp blamed asthma medication.

Now after completing his 90 day suspension Briggs is back taking on Cuban brawler Rafeal “The Cajun Connection” Pedro. The selection of Pedro, 20-8-1, 14Ko’s is no coincidence with Pedro standing 6’7’ carrying a 85inch reach as Briggs plans to stay busy looking to make another serious run at the heavyweight title keeping his eyes on the Klitscko’s.

After watching the “Twin Towers” beat down much smaller competition lack a true heavyweight punch Briggs has already warned the Klitscko’s to pick on someone their own size. Not exactly their size at 6’4” about 250 Briggs brings what most of the “Twin Towers” recent opponents lack, a heavyweight punch. Briggs, like Schmelling before his first fight with Louis says he “sees somezing” pointing out Wladimir’s pawing jab.

The plan seems right but it’s all in the execution. Only time will tell. A good Briggs matched with either Klitscko could work and would draw should “The Cannon” bang his way back to the top. In regards to a Briggs Wladimir fight “seeing somezing” is great but just like the plan to get their it’s all in the execution or he could find himself another of the executed.

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Briggs to Wladimir: Pick on Someone Your Own Size!

After watching Eddie Chambers falter badly in his challenge for Wladimir Klitschko's IBF and WBO belts, former WBO and Linear Heavyweight Champion of the World Shannon "The Cannon" Briggs has the following message for Klitschko: "Wlad, why don't you pick on someone your own size? Stop avoiding me. Let's see you fight someone who actually has a chance against you!"

Briggs, who stands a solid 6' 4" and weighs in the 250s, has the size, speed and power to exchange evenly with Klitschko. "Watching Wladimir paw away with his left hand and jump back whenever poor little Eddie Chambers managed to try a punch almost made me fall asleep!" continued Briggs. "Eddie looked ready to go in round two. Fighting a safety-first style every fight is not what the fans want from their Heavyweight Champion. But we've seen what happens when someone can match Wladimir's power. He either loses or he's up and down off the canvas like a yo-yo."

Briggs remembers what another big heavyweight with speed and power did to Mr. Klitschko. "Corrie Sanders had decent power but nowhere near what I have. And he had quick hands, but again, nothing compared to me. And look what he did to Wladimir. I commend his people for keeping him away from serious challenges, but you can't do this forever. When I won the WBO Championship, Wladimir was supposed to fight me and he chose to fight Calvin Brock instead - right in my hometown of New York City!!!"

Briggs (48-5-1, 42 KOs) is in heavy training for his comeback and says he is feeling better than ever because of his new treatments for chronic asthma. "I'm the last American to hold a heavyweight championship. I'm back and better than ever and I'm ready to bring the title back to the United States."

He also raises a valid point about deserving a title shot. "Vitali cancelled all kinds of fights. Then he ran for mayor. He comes back four years later and gets a title shot immediately. I was champion less than three years ago. I don't need to fight 15 guys to get a shot. I'm ready and I deserve it."

"Tell Wladimir I know he had some losses and some scares a while ago and now he's all about playing it safe with his style and his challengers. But Ali fought Earnie Shavers. Larry Holmes did too. Lennox Lewis defended against big punchers. That's part of the boxing game. If Wladimir wants to prove he's a true champion then there's only one thing he can do: Pick on Someone His Own Size!!!"

Contact:
Greg Cohen, The Empire - Founder and CEO, 212.845.9137, www.theempirese.com Andre Courtemanche, The Empire - Public Relations, 519.253.4290

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 Michael Faragon Joins The Empire!

(March 27th) Co-Founders Greg Cohen and Barry Honig of The Empire Sports and Entertainment proudly announce the signing of Schenectady, New York's Michael "Baby Face" Faragon (10-0, 4 KOs) to a promotional agreement.

For good reason, the undefeated 22-year-old Faragon has been called "the most promising young fighter to come out of the Capital Region in a long time."

Before his 10-fight winning streak as a professional, Faragon compiled and 85-15 amateur boxing record and won the state Golden Glove Championships twice, the Western Olympic trials and a junior national championship. He was also the number one ranked light welterweight in the United States in 2007.

"Michael is an exceptionally gifted young man with enormous talent and we're extremely pleased to be working with him," revealed Cohen. "He's a good looking kid with all the right tools to become a world champion."

Since making his pro debut in November 2007 on the undercard of Cotto vs. Mosely, Faragon has been extremely impressive while tearing through his first 10 professional opponents. He fights with power in either hand, but is best-known for his agility and poise, especially on the inside.

Faragon is managed by Stan Hoffman, who has guided the careers of over 31 world champions including The Empire's Hasim "The Rock" Rahman.

"With The Empire as his promoters and Stan Hoffman for his manager, Michael now has a team in place that will definitely give him a leg up on the competition," said Cohen. "He's a fan favorite in New York and that will quickly spread to the rest of the world, as we guide him to the top of boxing. We're looking forward to helping him build himself into one of The Empire's next generation of champions."

Contact:                                                                                                           Greg Cohen, The Empire - Founder and CEO, 212.810.6193, www.theempirese.com Andre Courtemanche, The Empire - Public Relations, 519.253.4290

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Heavyweights without a Punch Need Not Apply!
Wladimir Klitschko KOs Chambers in 12th!

By: Alfred Zimmerman
Sunday March 21st, ESPRIT Arena, Dusseldorf, Germany IBF/WBO heavyweight champ Wladimir “Dr. Steel Hammer” Klitschko dominated challenger "Fast" Eddie Chambers for eleven rounds before putting him to sleep in the twelfth round of their IBF, IBO and WBO heavyweight title heavyweight title.

Chambers who entered the fight with only one loss a twelve round decision loss to Alexander Povetkin in a 2008 IBF Heavyweight Title Eliminator bout while carrying 18 wins by stoppage mostly over hand picked opponents proved once again “Speed Kills.” In this case “Fast” Eddie proved if you don’t carry a true heavyweight punch the odds of a win over a Klitschko is against the odds.

Wladimir, 54-3, 48Ko’s only losses are by a Lamon Brewster Ko in five, a Corrie Sanders Ko in two and the lighter punching Ross Puritty surviving until the eleventh round back in 1998 when Wladimir who was winning the fight by a wide margin punched himself out running out of gas causing his trainer Fritz Sdunek to jump in and stop the fight virtually giving Purity an 11th round TKO win.

The 6’7” Klitschko dominated from the start using his 81” reach peppering the 6’1” Chambers with his thudding jab mixing in well timed hammering right hands. Chambers appeared miffed if not flat intimidated by the champions size and lacking the punch to create a treat of his own was at
the discourse of “Dr. Steelhammer’s” regular 1-2’s.

“Fast Eddie” attempted to counter but seemed to take himself out of range having tasted the champion’s power in the second round. AS each round passed the pattern of the fight became more entrenched Chambers finding himself on the operational end of Wladimir’s straight punches with little done in return.

Chambers fell into his usual defensive mode forcing a very boring event until in the eleventh round the champion finally committed and picked up the pace. Despite his defensive tendencies and the lack of a true heavyweight punch Chambers could not keep the pressing champion at bay.

At the start of the twelfth and final round the champion looked to close hard and all those straight jabs and rights finally cashed in setting up a winging left hook catching Chambers on the temple leaving him piled in the corner where referee Geno Rodriquez called it without a count at 2:55 of round 12.

Wladimir Klitschko successfully retained his three belts IBF, WBO and IBO advancing to 54-3, 48Ko’s and now awaits mandatory IBF challenger Alexander Povetkin, 19-0, 14Ko’s who holds a decicsion win over Chambers and like Chambers Ko wins came against a lower class of competition. Chambers collecting only his second loss dove to 35-2, 18Ko’s.

Prediction: Klitschko / Povetkin same result just sooner as Povetkin not as mobile and more willing to trade. A big mistake.

On the undercard: Detroit, Michigan heavyweight Johnathon Banks lulled, then put to sleep Florida’s Travis “Freight Train” Walker to win the vacant NABF Heavyweight Title. After five mostly boring inactive rounds Banks woke and surprised Walker with a solid left hook dropping Walker to the canvas with both fighters becoming entagled hitting the deck referee Daniel Van de Wiele called Banks fall a trip and called Walker unable to continue at 1:51 of the sixth round.
Banks advances to 24-1, 17Ko’s while Walker drops to 34-4-1, 28Ko’s.

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Powell Plays Catch and Release Winning Title Eliminator,
Edwin Rodriguez Blows Out Armenta in One!

By: Coach "K"                                                                                                 March 19th, The Choctaw Gaming Center, Durant, Oklahoma: Sechew “Iron Horse” Powell, 25-2, 15Ko’s met Deandre “The Bull” Latimore, 20-3, 16Ko’s in a title eliminator. The fight a rematch of the June 2008 fight in which Powell suffered a seventh round Tko loss to Latimore, “The Iron Horse” the naturally bigger man over came being hurt in the fourth round remaining patient retreating, counter punching catching and releasing Latimore like a eco system friendly fisherman, causing swelling over Deandre “The Bull” Latimore’s right eye then throwing him back only to catch him again later with clean left hands again and again. Latimore came on in the end but fell short losing a 117-111, 114-114, 116-112 majority decision dropping to 20-3, 16Ko’s while giving Powell new life at 25-2, 16Ko’s.

On the undercard: Worcester, Massachusetts super middleweight prospect 24 year old Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez, a 2005 US Amateur middleweight champion and 2006 National Golden Gloves middleweight champion remained undefeated destroying Silver Spring Maryland’s, George “Rooster” Armenta, 13-6, 11Ko’s drilling “The Rooster” with a body shot forcing referee Gary Ritter to call the bout at 0:47 of the opening round advancing Rodriguez to 14-0, 10Ko’s.

Cleveland, Ohio’s junior welterweight Prenice Brewer remained undefeated using his superior hand speed inside and out winning a six round 58-56, 59-55 and 59-55 unanimous decision over Salt Lake City, Utah’s Chris “Kid Kayo” Fernandez. Fernandez who has been stopped by France’s Ali “Hurricane” Oubaali and Devon “The Great” Alexander” but going the distance with the likes of Nick Casal and Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi. Brewer moves to14-0-1, 6Ko’s while Fernandez drops to 18-9, 11Ko’s.

Brewer, 22 years old a 2005 National Golden Gloves featherweight champion and 2000 National PAL Champion reminds me of Glen cove, New York’s 1976 Olympic Gold Medalist Howard Davis Jr. Davis a quick, sharp technically sound fighter could never over come his lack of punching power keeping him from a world title. Davis, 36-6-1, 14Ko’s lost every time he stepped up fighting a top caliber puncher (Edwin Rosario, Joe Manley, an undefeated Hector Camacho, James “Buddy” McGirt and Dana Rosenblatt. 

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