Shannon Briggs, the former WBO heavyweight champion, has called out Jake Paul for a fight. The 53-year-old boxer from Brooklyn claims he wants "blood," unlike Mike Tyson, who he says "wanted money" in his recent bout with Paul.
Jake Paul, the 28-year-old YouTube star turned professional fighter, defeated Mike Tyson in an 8-round heavyweight contest last November at AT&T; Stadium in Texas. The victory marked Paul's 11th win in his boxing career, but it didn't come without controversy. Critics slammed the matchup, pointing out the age difference between Paul and the former heavyweight legend. Some even suggested the fight might have been scripted, noting Paul's apparent reluctance to throw certain punches.
Paul is now looking to return to the ring in 2025, and Briggs wants to be his next opponent. The former champion took to Instagram to challenge Paul, writing:
"You wanna run it, or just run? Mike [Tyson] wanted the money I just want [blood]. Let's go champ!"
Briggs, nicknamed "The Cannon," held the WBO Heavyweight title from 2006 to 2007. His last fight was nine years ago when he knocked out Emilio Zarate in the first round at London's O2 Arena. With 53 stoppage victories in his career, Briggs has been vocal about his desire to return to boxing, calling out various active and inactive heavyweight fighters.
Paul hasn't responded to Briggs' challenge yet. The young fighter's bout with Tyson was his first since moving up to heavyweight, and it's unclear if he'll continue to compete in this weight class.
Briggs and Tyson share roots in Brooklyn, adding an interesting angle to this potential matchup. As Paul weighs his options for his next fight, the boxing world waits to see if he'll accept the challenge from the hard-hitting veteran.
