Shannon Briggs, the former two-time heavyweight champion, is coming back to boxing. The 53-year-old fighter, known for his big punches and loud personality, announced he'll return to the ring on July 1st in Nashville, Tennessee. This marks the end of a 10-year retirement for "The Cannon."
Briggs started his pro career in 1992 and quickly made a name for himself. He won the lineal heavyweight title in 1997 with a controversial decision over George Foreman. Later, in 2006, he grabbed the WBO heavyweight belt from Siarhei Liakhovich in a dramatic last-second victory when he was behind on the scorecards.
Throughout his career, Briggs fought 68 times and knocked out more than 60 of his opponents. That knockout ratio stands as one of the highest in heavyweight history. He faced off against big names like Lennox Lewis, Vitali Klitschko, Ray Mercer, and Francis Botha.
But Briggs wasn't just known for his fighting. He became a colorful character in the boxing world, famous for his catchphrase "Let's go champ!" and his relentless pursuit of a title shot against Wladimir Klitschko. Briggs chased Klitschko around the world, even showing up on a boat where Klitschko was paddle-boarding. Despite all his efforts, he never got that shot.
Briggs announced his comeback in a video with FightHype, saying:
"Yes champ, July 1st, he's back, look at him y'all, he's the champ, Shannon the Cannon, two-time heavyweight champion of the world. July 1st, Nashville, Tennessee, 10 years off, 10 years back y'all."
At the time of writing, Briggs' opponent for the July 1st fight hasn't been confirmed. It'll be interesting to see how the 53-year-old former champ performs after a decade away from the sport.
Briggs' last professional fight was in 2016, so this comeback is sure to attract attention from boxing fans curious to see if "The Cannon" still has his explosive power.
