Tua reportedly backs out of Briggs fight

Boxingtalk has heard from two separate and reliable sources that David Tua has allegedly backed out of a heavyweight showdown against Shannon Briggs. The bout was to be Showtime's headline fight on its April 1, 2006 broadcast, and network execs were reportedly very unhappy with Tua's change of heart. Tua, 44-3-1, took two years off from boxing and did not look great in either of his two comeback bouts, although he won them both. His last outing was a split decision win over journeyman Cisse Salif. Briggs, meanwhile, won five in a row in 2005, all by knockout, and though four of his victims were not household names, Briggs stopped Ray Mercer last year and seems to have a renewed passion for his career.