Shannon Briggs stormed through his career with an 88.3% knockout-to-win ratio, claiming the WBO World Heavyweight title and becoming a recognised name on the scene for years to come.
He was undefeated in his first 25 bouts before coming up against Darroll Wilson in 1996, and would lose again to Lennox Lewis two years later.
Given what ‘The Lion’ went on to achieve, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, speaking on the Jaxxon Podcast, Briggs praised Lewis as having the tools to beat any heavyweight in any era.
“One of the greatest heavyweights of all time. Amazing. Forget my fight, if you look at his resume, just amazing. He might not have looked the greatest stye-wise, but he could beat any heavyweight in history. By far. Jab, right hand, uppercut, he got it all.”
Lewis and Briggs met in 1998 for the former’s WBC Heavyweight title.
Although the champion established some control from the first bell, Briggs had successes towards the end of rounds one and two that saw Lewis staggered.
Despite that, he managed to move through the gears and hurt Briggs in the fourth, dropping him twice, before putting an end to the contest in the fifth with a strong right hand followed by the referee’s intervention after another swarm of punches.
Three fights later, Lewis became the undisputed champion in the division by beating Evander Holyfield, and to this day is the last man to achieve such a feat.
He is widely regarded as one of the best heavyweights of all time, and still carries the confidence of a champion.
The praise is mutual – he says that Briggs was the best puncher and had the fastest hands out of every opponent on his impressive record.