Ex-champion Shannon Briggs wants a shot at current IBF heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko, and he wants him next. Briggs won the lineal heavyweight title via controversial decision over George Formean in 1997 and he won the WBO title with a stunning last-second knockout of Sergei Lyakhovich in 2005. Boxingtalk sat down with Briggs, and as usual, he pulled no punches when making his case for a third title bid.

BC - Big Briggs, it's been a minute since we last spoke. What's the latest?

SB - I'm chillin'. I am feeling good. I just watched the fight with Klitschko and Brewster. I was glad to see him win and get that skeleton out of his closet. Now that he got that skeleton out of his closet, he can step up and fight me.

BC - Klitschko said that he would fight anybody next.

SB - I have been chasing him, calling out his name, doing anything possible to get him into the ring. But it didn't happen. I went into my last fight with pneumonia and asthma, and I went 12 rounds with a guy who they said was a vicious puncher, a knockout puncher. Well, he didn't even hurt me one time. They said he was going to knock me out. I wasn't even in shape for that fight. I couldn't train, I couldn't spar, I couldn't do anything. I believe that I am the best heavyweight right now. And, honestly, for us to get the belt back, I am the only guy. I looked at a onetime prospect and young gun in Monte Barrett, and he got knocked out. I saw what happened on Saturday night. It's just me left, I am the only (American) guy that can beat these guys.

BC - You were the last American to knock out an Eastern European heavyweight (Lyakhovich). I believe the people would show up for a fight with you and Klitschko.

SB - It's a great fight. It would be a great fight at Madison Square Garden. I love that fight. I think we should do it. I am motivated to fight Klitschko, and if Manny (Steward) could find it within his heart to make this fight happen, let's make it happen.

BC - How are you feeling now? Are you all healed up from pneumonia?

SB - I am fine now. But I had no choice but to fight, Brad. I would have preferred to have fought the guy in shape, and I know I would have knocked him out. I had to do what I had to do for my family and for my career. I felt like they were looking for any excuse to blackball me, and not give me another shot. They were even talking about going to the commission and trying to get me banned if I didn't fight. I had no choice. I went in there at 20 percent and I almost knocked him out in the first round.

BC - When would you like to get back in there? And would you like a tune-up, or go right after Klitschko?

SB - No. Even though my last fight went 12 rounds and I lost a unanimous decision, that was my tune-up. This guy (Klitschko) fought Brewster after the guy wasn't even in the ring for like 2 years, (with) no tune-up fights. He fought a dead man. Why would he fight a guy like Brewster? Because he know Brewster had no timing, he wasn't there. He knew what he was going up against in Brewster. (Brewster's) mind wasn't even there. You could tell that from the opening bell.

BC - Wladimir Klitschko has become a very dangerous fighter because he has found his range. He has learned to use his height, to fight tall. Brock couldn't reach him. Austin couldn't reach him. Brewster couldn't reach him. Why would Briggs be able to reach him?

SB - I am bigger than those guys and I hit harder than any of those guys. Those guys aren't even in my class.

More to come from Shannon Briggs in the near future.

M

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