Just KC
11-05-2006, 01:02 AM
The following is off the Sports Ticker:
Liakhovich defends WBO title against Briggs
November 4, 2006
PHOENIX (Ticker) - Shannon Briggs will play the role of "The Great Black Hope" on Saturday night.
Briggs challenges Sergei Liakhovich of Belarus for his WBO heavyweight title at Chase Field.
Three other former Soviet Union natives own the more highly regarded heavyweight belts, a dramatic shift from the days when black American boxers dominated the division and took on challenges from fighters such as Gerry Cooney and Duane Bobick, who were labeled as "Great White Hopes."
For decades, boxers such as Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson have had long reigns as champion, with numerous others alternating the top spot thereafter.
But the heavyweight class recently has been claimed by fighters from the former USSR. Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko owns the IBF belt, Russian Nikolay Valuev holds the WBA title and Oleg Maskaev - who was born in Kazakhstan - serves as WBC champ.
Liakhovic (23-1, 14 KOs), who moved to Scottsdale seven years ago, won the WBO title last April with a unanimous decision over Lamon Brewster, another black American.
"Sergei is part of the new generation of heavyweights that the public can finally see for themselves," Liakhovich's manager, Ivaylo Gotzev, said during a conference call Wednesday.
Briggs (47-4-1, 41 KOs) who turns 35 in December, has turned into the unlikely American hope. Many believed he had the power to become a champion in his prime, but he may be better known for his modeling and roles in movies such as "The Transporter" and "Bad Boys II."
Briggs' manager, Scott Hirsch, has dubbed him "The Great Black Hope" for this bout. The fighter has been wearing shirts with the nickname.
Eight years ago, Briggs had a shot at the WBC heavyweight title but was knocked out in the fifth round by Lennox Lewis.
"I'm going to rectify it," Briggs said Wednesday. "I am going to set the record straight."
At Thursday's weigh-in, Briggs checked in at 268 pounds, 30 more than Liakhovich.
Promoter Don King had put together a card with two other title bouts, but one was canceled when IBF super flyweight champion Luis Perez failed to make the weight on Friday.
Perez (24-1, 15 KOs) weighed in at five pounds over the limit and was forced to vacate his title. He was scheduled to fight Ricardo Vargas (39-12-3, 13 KOs).
"Boxers have an obligation to make their contracted weights and not to do so is unfair to the opponent, fans, promoter and the world title sanctioning organization involved in the event," Arizona State boxing commission director John Montano said.
Unbeaten Juan Diaz (30-0, 15 KOs) will defend his WBA lightweight crown against Fernando Angulo (18-3, 12 KOs).
King signed Diaz to the card as a sales pitch to fans from the Valley, who are predominantly Mexican and Mexican-American. Diaz, who has dual citizenship, was the youngest fighter with a major title when he won the WBA crown as a 20-year-old.
Luis Collazo (26-2, 12 KOs) will also fight for the first time since losing his WBA welterweight title to England's Ricky Hatton last May. Collazo will face Ukranian Artur Atadzhanov (10-3, 7 KOs).
crdit MMAnews.com
Im hoping briggs takes it because we need an american champion to spark the heavyweight division again
__________________
Liakhovich defends WBO title against Briggs
November 4, 2006
PHOENIX (Ticker) - Shannon Briggs will play the role of "The Great Black Hope" on Saturday night.
Briggs challenges Sergei Liakhovich of Belarus for his WBO heavyweight title at Chase Field.
Three other former Soviet Union natives own the more highly regarded heavyweight belts, a dramatic shift from the days when black American boxers dominated the division and took on challenges from fighters such as Gerry Cooney and Duane Bobick, who were labeled as "Great White Hopes."
For decades, boxers such as Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson have had long reigns as champion, with numerous others alternating the top spot thereafter.
But the heavyweight class recently has been claimed by fighters from the former USSR. Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko owns the IBF belt, Russian Nikolay Valuev holds the WBA title and Oleg Maskaev - who was born in Kazakhstan - serves as WBC champ.
Liakhovic (23-1, 14 KOs), who moved to Scottsdale seven years ago, won the WBO title last April with a unanimous decision over Lamon Brewster, another black American.
"Sergei is part of the new generation of heavyweights that the public can finally see for themselves," Liakhovich's manager, Ivaylo Gotzev, said during a conference call Wednesday.
Briggs (47-4-1, 41 KOs) who turns 35 in December, has turned into the unlikely American hope. Many believed he had the power to become a champion in his prime, but he may be better known for his modeling and roles in movies such as "The Transporter" and "Bad Boys II."
Briggs' manager, Scott Hirsch, has dubbed him "The Great Black Hope" for this bout. The fighter has been wearing shirts with the nickname.
Eight years ago, Briggs had a shot at the WBC heavyweight title but was knocked out in the fifth round by Lennox Lewis.
"I'm going to rectify it," Briggs said Wednesday. "I am going to set the record straight."
At Thursday's weigh-in, Briggs checked in at 268 pounds, 30 more than Liakhovich.
Promoter Don King had put together a card with two other title bouts, but one was canceled when IBF super flyweight champion Luis Perez failed to make the weight on Friday.
Perez (24-1, 15 KOs) weighed in at five pounds over the limit and was forced to vacate his title. He was scheduled to fight Ricardo Vargas (39-12-3, 13 KOs).
"Boxers have an obligation to make their contracted weights and not to do so is unfair to the opponent, fans, promoter and the world title sanctioning organization involved in the event," Arizona State boxing commission director John Montano said.
Unbeaten Juan Diaz (30-0, 15 KOs) will defend his WBA lightweight crown against Fernando Angulo (18-3, 12 KOs).
King signed Diaz to the card as a sales pitch to fans from the Valley, who are predominantly Mexican and Mexican-American. Diaz, who has dual citizenship, was the youngest fighter with a major title when he won the WBA crown as a 20-year-old.
Luis Collazo (26-2, 12 KOs) will also fight for the first time since losing his WBA welterweight title to England's Ricky Hatton last May. Collazo will face Ukranian Artur Atadzhanov (10-3, 7 KOs).
crdit MMAnews.com
Im hoping briggs takes it because we need an american champion to spark the heavyweight division again
__________________