Shannon Briggs
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| Shannon "Brooklyn" Briggs | |
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Real name | Shannon Briggs |
| Nickname | "The Cannon" |
| Weight | Heavyweight |
| Nationality |  American |
| Birth date | December 4, 1971 |
| Birth place | Brooklyn, NY, USA |
| Style | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 53 |
| Wins | 48 |
| Wins by KO | 42 |
| Losses | 4 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 0 |
Shannon "Brooklyn" Briggs (born December 4, 1971 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American heavyweight boxer and actor, whose career peaked by controversially outpointing George Foreman for the linear heavyweight championship but was decelerated by a loss to Lennox Lewis in 1998. On November 4, 2006, Briggs was once again recognized as a heavyweight champion, becoming the WBO Heavyweight Champion by beating Sergei Liakhovich by TKO in the twelfth and final round.
[edit] Amateur Career
As an amateur, Briggs finished in 2nd place as a Heavyweight at the Panamerican Games in 1991, losing the final to Felix Savon (Cuba) by RSC-2. In 1992, he was a United States Amateur Heavyweight Champion.
[edit] Professional Career
Briggs began his career in 1992 and was undefeated in his first 25 fights. Briggs' potential greatness would come to a halt in a shocking TKO loss to undefeated Darroll Wilson in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1996. The fight was broadcast on HBO and was a showcase of young heavyweight fighters. Briggs was the most highly-touted prospect on the card, with a distinct look, heavy hands, and hailing from the same New York environment as former champions Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe.
Following the loss, Briggs defeated George Foreman for the lineal heavyweight championship (an championship in name alone that attempts to track who the champion is in a person A beat person B way) and then challenged Lennox Lewis for the WBC heavyweight title. In their 1998 fight, Briggs had Lewis in trouble early but was knocked down three times and lost by TKO.
He later drew with Francois Botha and lost to clubfighter Sedreck Fields, considered a major loss.[1] He also was outpointed by contender Jameel McCline but defeated former heavyweight contender Ray Mercer who was at that time 44 years old. He KO'd non-descript opposition and signed with a new manager S.Hersh.
Shannon won the WBO Heavyweight Championship title when he knocked out Sergei Liakhovich in the last round of a November 4, 2006, matchup. After an extremely lackluster 11 rounds which left the Arizona crowd restless, Briggs was losing on all three judges' scorecards. Sensing urgency, Briggs pressed the fight in the 12th round and knocked Liakhovich down and then the exhausted Briggs subsequently trapped him on the ropes and continued his assault and Liakhovich was knocked out of the ring. Liakhovich landed on a ringside table, and the referee stopped the bout after it was clear that Liakhovich should not continue, the official time was 2:59. Had the referee allowed the fight to finish, Liakhovich would have kept his title with a draw.[2]
In his first title defense Shannon Briggs was to face Sultan Ibragimov on March 10, 2007; however, Briggs has pulled out of the fight because he has been diagnosed with "aspirational pneumonia" and it may be resheduled for May 2007 or later.
[edit] Outside the Ring
Briggs has also had one fight in K-1 kickboxing defeating wrestler Tom Erikson by KO in the first round.
Shannon also lost an important civil case. Former Miami Hurricane Brian Stinson was awarded $2 Million dollars for being attacked by Briggs in a South Beach night club [3]. The football player's football career was cut short due to the attack. Briggs lost his appeal of the verdict.
Made his acting debut in the film The Transporter 2
| Preceded by Sergei Liakhovich |
WBO Heavyweight Champion 04 November 2006– |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
