After a decade out of the ring, George Foreman returned to become the oldest heavyweight champion in history at 46-years-old. Now, his final opponent has claimed he’s serious about beating that record.
Foreman suffered a points loss to Jimmy Young in 1977 before going on a hiatus from the sport. He would return in 87 and mount a campaign to become heavyweight champion once again.
Although he suffered losses to the likes of Evander Holyfield and Tommy Morrison, he would win the IBF and WBA belts by knocking out 26-year-old Michael Moorer in the tenth round of their contest.
Foreman won three more fights before losing to one Shannon Briggs by majority decision and hanging up the gloves. It’s Briggs who now claims he can beat the record.
Speaking on the JAXXON podcast, the 51-year-old former world champion said he was serious about a comeback.
“Real talk, I’m an animal. I’m not no regular being. There’s a reason why people don’t fight me. You’re my first fight back in seven, eight years. This is an exhibition fight, I’m coming out and I want to thank you for having enough heart.”
After dipping his toe in the water for an exhibition, Briggs says he’s going on a ‘ten-fight run.’
“I’m coming back, yeah. This is my first fight. I’ll go on a ten fight run – that’s my goal. [Tyson Fury] Yeah, I want to get back in shape, Champ. I want to give myself about a year of two, fight myself back into shape, and then I wanna go for something big … I want real boxers.”
“100% [I want to make a run for the belt], why not?
Briggs blasted through the heavyweight ranks in the lates 90s and early 2000s, ultimately scoring knockouts in 53 of his 60 wins. His punching power was well thought of, but he lost to the likes of Lennox Lewis and Vitali Klitshko.
‘The Cannon’ was world champion in 2006/07, and believes he has what it takes to repeat the feat sixteen years on. First up is this as yet unannounced exhibition with 45-year-old MMA star, Rampage Jackson.
Briggs has been teasing a return like this one for some years now following his last fight in 2016 and a doping ban one year later.