Shannon Briggs, the former WBO heavyweight champion, has named George Foreman as the hardest puncher he ever faced in the ring. Briggs shared this revelation during an interview with KO Digest, reflecting on his experiences with notable opponents throughout his career.
Briggs, known as "The Cannon," had an impressive professional record of 60 wins in 68 fights, with 53 of those victories coming by knockout. He won the WBO heavyweight title in November 2006 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, stopping Siarhei Liakhovich in the 12th round. However, his reign was short-lived, as he lost the title to Sultan Ibragimov in a unanimous decision defeat at Boardwalk Hall in the summer of 2007.
When asked about the hardest puncher he faced, Briggs didn't hesitate to name George Foreman. In an interview with KO Digest, Briggs vividly described the impact of Foreman's punches:
"Oh man, he hit so hard I couldn't speak for two weeks. He knocked me out in the seventh round and hit me with another punch that woke me back up. I never felt anything like it, it was like bone breaking. I was like, 'man, I've got to do this' because my back was against the wall. What, I was just gonna get knocked out like everybody else? No, man. That ain't in me."
The fight Briggs referred to took place in November 1997. It ended in a controversial majority decision victory for Briggs, marking Foreman's final ring appearance. Shortly after this bout, Foreman announced his second and final retirement from boxing.
Despite the loss, Foreman's legacy in the sport remains impressive. He holds the record as the oldest world heavyweight champion in history, a feat that has stood unbroken for over 30 years.
Briggs' account of Foreman's punching power gives fans a rare insight into the physical impact of facing one of boxing's most feared punchers. It's a testament to Briggs' toughness that he not only withstood Foreman's punches but also managed to secure a victory in their encounter.
This revelation from Briggs adds another chapter to the storied career of George Foreman, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most powerful punchers in heavyweight boxing history.
