Briggs Stops Okine

By Michael Amakor

Former IBU Heavyweight Champion Shannon"The Cannon" Briggs knocked out  undefeated and former IBC Americas Champion  Abraham The African Assassin" Okine inside the third round at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, New York, emphatically showcasing his determination to battle his way back into title contention.

Back in November of 1997 Briggs beat two time former champion Big George Foreman  to become the uncrowned lineal champion, four months later he went down three times en-route to being stopped in the 5th round in his title challenge losing effort against  WBA Champion Lennox Lewis. Since then he seemed to lose his enthusiam for the game due to the business aspect side of the sweat science, he went on to fight to a draw against Franz Botha, and a loss to  behemoth Jameel Mccline and Sedrick Fields further diminishing his star appeal and slidding him down the rankings almost to a journey man status his poor showing may also have been due to his lack of proper preparation for these fights as he was featured in  a few films including Bad Boys II and appearancess in K1 competitions which resulted in him fighting only once in 2004.

In this  fight, his second in 2005 alone,  he staggered a seemingly defenseless and unsteady Okine and dropped him down two times in the first round alone.  It was great to see Briggs back in form with his usual common lets fight aggressive style, but Okine drew first blood by opening a cut on Briggs left eye and battled back through the 2nd round weathering the storm. The end came in the 3rd round as a visibly athletically superior Briggs who claimed Okine's camp chose him as a test for their fighter in this fight, now    incensed by this  blatant lack of respect unleashed  three left hooks followed by a big right hand to the chin of the Assassin from Africa sending him crashing to the canvas, who knowing he was in trouble  frantically tried to head for an exit as quickly as he could but he was nevertheless apprehended by the police personified by the referee who waved off the fight at the 0.54 minute.

With this victory Briggs has improved his record to fourty two victories including thirty six knockouts, with four losses and a draw. In the post fight interview with former trainer and ringside analyst , he claimed like all fighters do after a victory that he was focused and determined to claw his way back into contender status, you have to like his chances because although it looks like he has been around forever he is only thirty three years old and still has a few fights in him. Seeing him reminds you that there are still a couple of worthier title challengers than recycling losers like Andrew Golota through the system.

Punch On.