BoxingTalk Story |
18/08/2004
"I deserve an immediate shot at the WBC Light Heavyweight Title"
Following on from his stirring defeat of WBC NO 3 rated contender Stipe Drews in a unanimous decision at the State Sports Centre in Sydney, Australia, in the final elimination bout for the WBC Light Heavyweight championship, Paul Briggs has called on the WBC and current light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver to grant him an immediate shot at the title.- Antonio Tarver, boxingtalk.net 08/16/04
"In response to these statements from Antonio Tarver I would say the following:
'It is refreshing to hear such statements from a world champion. There is no doubt that Antonio Tarver is a worthy world champion and an ambassador for the sport of boxing. If Antonio Tarver is a true champion and a man of his word then lets get this fight on before the end of the year. I am calling on Antonio Tarver to defend and honor his WBC championship both for himself and his own credibility and legacy, and also for the WBC, the organization that gave him a second opportunity to achieve his dreams on May 15. I have defeated 4 top ten rated WBC opponents in order to become the challenger. I have ducked nobody, I have taken every risk imaginable to get to this position and I want this fight.'
'I have heard that Antonio Tarver is looking at a rubber match with Roy Jones Jnr if Roy defeats Glencoffe Johnson in September. To me, this is against everything that the WBC and Antonio Tarver have been saying to me personally and in public about the future of the light heavyweight division. Antonio Tarver vs. Roy Jones Jnr lll is a step back for the sport and for the light heavyweight division, it is time to move forward. Antonio Tarver vs. Paul Briggs is about the future and about the integrity of the sport of boxing. To the 'man on the street' boxing has lost its honor and integrity because the 'business of boxing continually comes before the sport of boxing'. What the public want to see is a new champion in Antonio Tarver fighting a new and worthy contender in Paul Briggs, it is as simple as that!.'
'I agree that there is a new era in world boxing. There are some incredible young, hungry boxers emerging in the sport who are not only great boxers, but also great people, true ambassadors for the sport. They are true warriors who take the hard fights, make the tough decisions and don't turn boxing into a 'bum of the month circuit'. I believe that I can stand alongside these boxers because their philosophy is my philosophy.'"
Paul Briggs' managers Geoffrey Schuhkraft and Mark Jones from ON Corporation have echoed the thoughts of Paul Briggs in saying to the WBC and Antonio Tarver:
"Given the unwavering support that Paul Briggs has demonstrated in recent months to the WBC, we expect the WBC will grant their most worthy challenger in recent history an immediate shot at the title. When the WBC was going through its recent turmoil Paul Briggs stood firm and stated publicly on many occasions that he was going to fight his final eliminator for the WBC title, despite receiving a number of offers to fight for other sanctioning organizations. He has shown admirable loyalty and commitment to the WBC. Paul Briggs and ourselves have also met personally with the President Mr Jose Sulaiman and we are confident that the President and the Board of Governors will recognize that Paul Briggs represents the new era of the WBC and a new future shaped by truly worthy champions accepting the challenge put to them by immediately mandating Tarver vs. Briggs for the light heavyweight championship."
"In his last five fights he has faced and beaten 4 fighters who were rated in the WBC top 10 when the fight took place. Glen Kelly, Jorge Castro, Jesus Ruiz and Stipe Drews have not been able to stand in the way of Paul Briggs. Many fighters become the mandatory challenger through attrition and through handpicking their opponents. Paul Briggs has fought the tough, the awkward, the dirty, the very best the WBC could put before him all for one reason - to earn a shot for the green belt".