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| By Michael Amakor from Atlantic City |
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IBRAGIMOV DETHRONES BRIGGS
Former
WBO Asia Pacific Heavyweight Sultan Ibragimov stepped up in class and
claimed the highly coveted WBO Heavyweight Title from defending champion
Shannon Briggs who was making the very first defense of his title at the
Boardwalk hall in Atlantic City. His victory completes the final sweep of
all the belts in the heavyweight division by fighters of Soviet extraction,
leaving the United States without a stake in the division for the first time
in living memory.
The physically intimidating 273 pound Shannon Briggs towered over the more technically sound former silver medalist Sultan during the pre-fight instructions by referee Eddie Cotton. It looked like the physically smaller Ibragimov had a monumental task in front of him, but his quiet confidence and the backing of Golden boy promotions and Warriors boxing who must have have seen something in him to promote him nonplussed proceeded to use his boxing skills to outwit and stun the slow footed heavy panting Briggs down the stretch to the amazement of the spectators and aghast ringside experts who expected a more valiant performance.
Shannon perhaps buoyed after sizing up Ibragimov missed his first couple of assaults before landing a cross and an inside hook that staggered Ibragimov eliciting fears that it would be a short night. The Sultan regrouped in the second round and lands a massive combination that shakes Briggs signaling that he meant business, although losing the first two rounds by my scorecard.
The fight thereafter became a highly tactical affair as the both circled each other trying to feel each other out and pawing with their jabs to the annoyance of the crowd. Briggs seemed puzzled by the southpaw stance of Ibragimov and was ineffectively aggressive as he moved forward without a lead jab trying to corner Ibragimov and seemingly waiting an eternity to try to counter Ibragimov with one of the heavy handed shots that enabled him squeak out a twelth round kayo over Sergie Liahovich in his title winning effort, but this was not to be tonight.
In the middle rounds Briggs tried to pick up the action by aiming more punches at the moving target but walked into more blistering combinations that almost had him out on his feet in the ninth round. Ibragimov became more confidence and consistent as he would feint, weave and spring in fast as he unloaded some blisteringly fast overhand rights that buzzed Briggs throughout the fight sending sweat flying into the second row seats. Briggs shook off most of the shots and even smiled back gamely as he tried to solve the puzzle in front of him as his excited corner lead by new trainer Joel Judah tried to guide him.
Briggs rallied somewhat in the latter rounds only to be completely blinded sided by the angle of hellecious overhand combinative right hand shots coming from the cagey and now stronger Ibragimov who repeatedly tagged him with head shattering shots sending sweat everywhere and busting his cheekbone and lips while dancing and giving Briggs difficult angles not allowing him get set. Briggs somehow lacked the the fire and was too far winded to summon any energy to launch an assault to keep the title and must have been worried about making it to the end of the fight as he allowed Ibragimov coast to the final bell kept by the Ray Ryan and losing the round on my scorecard
Judge Carter had it 119-109, Judge Trella had it 117-111, and Judge Rivera had it 115-113 all unanimously in favor for the new champion Sultannn Ibragimov, FightKings scored the first two rounds to Briggs, with Ibragimov dominating and winning rounds three through twelve.
Briggs took the defeat in stride and
even delighted the press corp post fight citing his battles with pneumonia
as one factor for his winded performance, he claims he did not want to fight
right now but had to step into the ring in his condition to avoid being
stripped by the WBO.
Prominent Boxing celebrities ringside included former heavyweight Champion Vitali Klitchko looking trim and fit, Jameel Mccline working the media crew, and Pernell Whitaker.
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