SHANNON "BROOKLYN" BRIGGS
Age: 34 (1971-12-14)

Residence: West Orange, NJ
Record: 47-4-1, 41 KOs
Height: 6' 4"
Weight: 257 lbs. (approx.)

Trainer: Jeff Mayweather

Asst. Trainer: Milton Lacroix

Asst. Trainer: Chill Wilson

Shannon Briggs is back. Just 25 years old in 1997 when he decisioned all-time-great George Foreman for the linear heavyweight championship of the world, Briggs says that at 33, he is finally ready to reach his full potential as a fighter. "It's just a maturity," explains Briggs of his rebirth as a serious contender. "I felt like it was time to rededicate myself. I'm a big fan of classic boxing and when people think of me 100 years from now, I hope they say I really changed my career around to reach greatness." Since rededicating himself, Briggs has gone 7-0 with all 7 by knockout. Multi-talented and charismatic, Briggs has the exciting style and charismatic personality to capture the public's imagination and renew interest in the flagging heavyweight division."

LAST FIGHT: On 2006-04-24 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, Briggs put on a dazzling performance in dismantling useful veteran Chris Koval. With fast, heavy hands, Briggs took apart a belligerent Koval with strong combinations to the head and body. Koval was finally TKO'd at the end of the third round. With the victory, Briggs is now the NABA, NABO and USBA Heavyweight Champion.

STRONG PERFORMANCE: On 2005-12-10 at Roberto Clemente Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Briggs knocked out formerly undefeated Luciano Zolyone in sixteen seconds, including the ten count. Rounding into championship form, Briggs power had Zolyone unconscious from the very first punch.

ANOTHER STRONG PERFORMANCE: On 2005-08-26 at the Hard Rock Live Arena in Hollywood, Florida, Briggs stopped former WBO World Heavyweight Champion and Olympic Gold Medallist "Merciless" Ray Mercer in the seventh round. Briggs hand speed and power were too much for his former stablemate. Over 4000 fans braved Hurricane Katrina to watch Briggs dominate before dropping and stopping the formidable Mercer.

IMPRESSIVE VICTORY: On 2005-06-10 at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York, Briggs stopped then undefeated (14-0) opponent Abraham "African Assassin" Okine in the third round. Briggs performance was described as "target practice," by media in attendance. He dropped Okine three times in the first and again in the final round of the fight before the referee wisely waved the fight over.

CAREER BEST VICTORY: On 1997-11-22 at the Taj Majal Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Briggs put on a masterful exhibition of his then under-rated boxing skills to take a 12-round majority decision and the linear heavyweight championship from the legendary George Foreman. Briggs youthful energy and superior hand speed allowed him to outwork the hall of famer, while his toughness allowed him to withstand Foreman's world-famous power.   

AMATEUR, PERSONAL BACKGROUND: The first time all-time-great heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield saw Shannon Briggs box as a 19-year old amateur, he predicted the skilled, punishing boxer would one day achieve greatness. "The first time I saw him, when he won the national amateur championship, I said he's a future champion." Briggs had an extraordinary amateur boxing career, which he culminated by winning the national amateur championship and a silver medal from the 1992 Pan Am Games. A wrist injury prevented him from competing to represent the U.S. at the Olympic Games in Barcelona.

Briggs grew up in Brownsville, Brooklyn, the same section of Brooklyn that produced fellow former heavyweight champions Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe. In addition to being a sought-after model, the multi-talented Briggs has also flourished in several areas of entertainment.

Briggs has adorned the pages of major magazines like Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, GQ, Top Model, Details, Vibe and The Source. He has also enjoyed several supporting roles on both the large and small screens. He guest starred in an episode of "New York Undercover", and has appeared in the box office hit "Bad Boys II" - in which he plays a Haitian mob boss opposite Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. He is currently appearing on the big screen in the nationally released "Transporter II", and will soon appear in "Retirement" with Rip Torn and Peter Faulk (Columbo).

Briggs also has solid experience in the realm of radio, rapping on the Fugees' multi-platinum album "The Score" and making several memorable appearances on the nationally syndicated "Howard Stern Radio Show". He has also worked in sports broadcasting, providing commentary opposite Larry Michaels for the popular cable boxing and music series "Thunderbox", as well as the successful Ballroom Boxing.

STRENGTHS: Power and Strength…Very Fast Hands for a Big Man…Natural Athleticism…Experience

WEAKNESSES: At times in his career, Briggs has seemed less motivated and distracted…A childhood sufferer of asthma; Briggs has had stamina problems in some fights

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 52 fights, 13 years, 166 total rounds.
AVERAGE LENGTH OF BOUTS: 3 rounds.
KNOCKOUT PERCENTAGE: 87 %.

DISTANCE FIGHTS: 12 rounds - 1 (1-0).10 rounds - 3 (1-1-1)

HEAR YE, HEAR YE.

THE BOXING WORLD VS. SHANNON "BROOKLYN" BRIGGS

 COURT IS NOW IN SESSION:

SHANNON BRIGGS SAY S HE'S GOING TO RECLAIM THE LINEAR CHAMPIONSHIP AND BECOME THE DOMINANT HEAVYWEIGHT OF THIS GENERATION.

THE CASE AGAINST BRIGGS:

SHANNON BRIGGS IS TOO OLD.

"Shannon is only 33 years old. And you have to remember, heavyweights mature later. He was only 25 when he won the linear championship. He's just reaching his physical prime now…People may think of Shannon as having belonged to a past generation of heavyweights because he's been in the game since he was so young, but put it this way:  Audley Harrison is older than Shannon. Brian Minto and Vinny Maddalone are only a few years younger and they're all considered ‘on the way up.'" Manager Scott Hirsch

"I'm healthy; I feel good and I'm fortunate that I've never taken a beating. I haven't had any wars besides the (Francois) Botha fight (D 10). I'm still young and I feel I'm the best heavyweight in the world because I can box if I have to, and with 38 knockouts, I can also punch. I'm the only guy that can do it all." Shannon Briggs

SHANNON BRIGGS HAS NO STAMINA.

"I have more power in the later rounds (now). People used to say I have no endurance; that I was only strong for three or four rounds. But I‘ve really matured physically and learned how to train so well that my endurance is better than ever. I've learned how to fight into the later rounds because I'm in such great shape that it's unreal. I used to be afraid a fight would go into the later rounds, now I welcome it." Shannon Briggs

"I have really changed the way I work out. What's come with maturity is that I've learned how to train. I have learned what works for me. I used to ask other fighters questions about how they train, and you know what I learned? I learned it's different for everybody. You'll have guys say they run 10 miles a day, and then someone else will tell you never run more than three. It's whatever floats your boat. I've learned what works for Shannon Briggs." Shannon Briggs

SHANNON BRIGGS DOESN'T TAKE BOXING SERIOUSLY.

"It's just a maturity. I felt like it was time to rededicate myself. I'm a big fan of classic boxing and when people think of me 100 years from now, I hope they say I really changed my career around to reach greatness…As long as I'm not getting hurt and I'm having fun, I'd like to stay in boxing for a long time. I love boxing now."

Shannon Briggs

Briggs' showdown against durable veteran Brian Scott, at the Fort Smith Convention Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas on November 26 will be his fourth fight this year. Briggs and Hirsch say they're hoping to squeeze in one or two more by the end of the year. Since 2002, Briggs is 7-0 with all seven victories by knockout!

SHANNON BRIGGS HAS NO CONFIDENCE.

"I love boxing now. I'm enjoying it and I feel more confident. I was going into fights and not feeling confident and praying I perform well. Now, that that has been taken away from me, it's like a dream come true for me to go up the stairs and be so happy. I can't wait because I did what I have to do to prepare. I never went into a fight prior to last year as confident as I am now." Shannon Briggs

"I was born with asthma and a stamina situation. It was more like a phobia. I can admit that now. Now I welcome round ten. My fights won't go that long because I am so strong, but I can go the rounds if I have to. It's amazing for me. I'm enjoying it and I feel more confident…I'm definitely a much better fighter today than at I was at 25. I'm physically and mentally happy. I've never had a manger I was friends with. I was always a piece of meat. This is a situation where I'm enjoying what I'm doing. We're having fun and doing business at the same time. We met up with each other for a reason. He's a breath of fresh air and being with Scott has helped me because he's not somebody just looking to make quick money off a fighter." Shannon Briggs

SHANNON BRIGGS WON'T FIGHT ANYBODY TOUGH

"I went the distance and beat George Foreman. I knocked out Ray Mercer, who everyone said had an iron chin. I fought Lennox Lewis and Jameel McCline. I'll fight Klitschko, Sam Peter, David Tua, Calvin Brock, James Toney bring em on." Shannon Briggs

THE BOXING WORLD DOESN'T NEED SHANNON BRIGGS.

"I can't even go to Blockbuster Video without someone saying ‘aren't you Shannon Briggs?' The world is looking for someone to take the bull by the horns in boxing. Lennox Lewis was a very good fighter but he wasn't marketable or charismatic. He was no Mike Tyson or Sugar Ray Leonard. He didn't have that. He was a very good fighter and the best of his era, but he lacked charisma and you need it to sell the sport to people…As champion, I would do more things to get out and touch people and be more visible. I'd tour the universe with the belts." Shannon Briggs

Shannon Briggs has modeled in the pages of major magazines like Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, GQ, Top Model, Details, Vibe and The Source. He has also enjoyed several supporting roles on both the large and small screens. He guest starred in an episode of "New York Undercover," and has appeared in the box office hit "Bad Boys II" - in which he plays a Haitian mob boss opposite Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as well as the recently released Transporter II. He will soon be appearing in Retirement with Rip Torn and Peter Faulk (Columbo).

Briggs also has solid experience in the realm of radio, rapping on the Fugees' multi-platinum album "The Score" and making several memorable appearances on the nationally syndicated "Howard Stern Radio Show." Briggs has also worked in sports broadcasting, providing commentary opposite Larry Michaels for the popular cable boxing and music series "Thunderbox," as well as the successful Ballroom Boxing.

WILL SHANNON BRIGGS REGAIN THE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD, REACH HIS FULL POTENTIAL AND RESCUE THE HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION FROM THE DOLDRUMS?

LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE. BRIGGS WILL DELIVER THE VERDICT WITH HIS FISTS.