Former heavyweight champions Deontay Wilder and Shannon Briggs are gearing up for a return to the boxing ring. Both fighters have announced their plans to step back into professional competition, with Briggs even expressing interest in a potential clash with Wilder.
Wilder, the 39-year-old former WBC heavyweight champion from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, hasn't fought since suffering back-to-back defeats against Joseph Parker and Zhilei 'Big Bang' Zhang. Now, he's set to make his comeback on June 27 in Wichita against Tyrrell Herndon. The fight looks to be a relatively straightforward way for "The Bronze Bomber" to ease back into competition.
Meanwhile, Shannon Briggs, the 53-year-old former WBO heavyweight champion, is planning his own return after a nearly decade-long absence from the sport. Briggs last stepped into the ring nine years ago in London, where he faced Emilio Zarate. He's reportedly scheduled to fight on July 1, though his opponent hasn't been announced yet.
Briggs made his intentions clear in a recent statement:
"I've been out of the ring, but I never stopped being a fighter. I'm coming back stronger, faster, and more dangerous than ever. This isn't just a fight—it's a movement. LET'S GO CHAMP!"
The veteran fighter has also set his sights on a potential matchup with Wilder. In an interview with Fight Hub TV, Briggs said:
"I would like to fight him, I think it would be a great fight in Alabama when he comes back. I never really retired, they just won't fight me… if he wants to go, we can go."
Wilder's camp hasn't responded to Briggs' challenge yet. There's been speculation about Wilder's retirement, but the former champ seems determined to push towards becoming world champion again.
As both fighters prepare for their respective comebacks, the boxing world waits to see if these two heavyweight veterans can recapture their former glory. Will Wilder and Briggs find success in their returns? And will we see them face off in the ring? Only time will tell as these comeback stories unfold.
