Former two-time heavyweight boxing champ Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs (48-5-1, 42 KOs) will mark his return to the ring on October 17 at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix, AZ, squaring off against Robert “Big Philly” Hawkins (23-13-0, 7 KOs) as part of the Neworld Promotions and Roland Sarria card dubbed “Phoenix Rising.”
For Briggs the Saturday night fight ends a two-year layoff from the ring and is being called his first step toward reclaiming the heavyweight title. Briggs captured the WBO belt with a 12th round knockout of Sergei Liakhovich on November 4, 2006 but in his first title defense in which he was forced to fight with “walking pneumonia” he lost a 12-round decision to Sultan Ibragimov.
Now “recharged and refocused,” Briggs has made it known that his goal is to become the true heavyweight champion, referring to the current heavyweight champions as “belt-holders” in an interview with WooEB.com’s Peter Tosto.
While Briggs is prepared for Hawkins he has current WBC belt holder Vitali Klitschko in his sights. After witnessing a less than impressive Klitschko’s 10th round TKO of Chris Arreola last month Briggs stated the “belt holder” couldn’t handle the power and speed he possesses. Briggs doesn’t want to stop with Vitali, he wouldn’t mind a shot at his brother Wladimir Klitschko, the current IBF, IBO and WBO champ.
Briggs is supremely confident in his ability to handle the Ukrainian brothers having stated “I’m the last American-born heavyweight champion and I’m going to be the next. You have to be able to hurt these guys. I’m the only one big enough, strong enough and experienced enough.”
That confidence has brought some excitement back to the heavyweight division and attracted some of Hollywood’s biggest names as Jack Nicholson, Brad Pitt, Richard Gere and 50 Cent are rumored to be planning on attending Saturday’s fight. Former heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson are also said to be sitting ringside for the bout.
For media enquiries and to schedule an interview with Shannon Briggs please contact
KaliMari, Chief Communications Officer
Briggs Entertainment, Inc
Shannon "The Cannon" Briggs
912.536.2496
http://www.shannonbriggs.com/
