White Wolf Shot Down by the Cannon
Sergei Liakovich vs Shannon Briggs
WBO Heavyweight Championship

Story & Photos By Sean Sweeney
 

New Heavyweight Champion of the world Shannon Briggs stuck by his word and brought the title back to America with one of the most explosive final rounds in heavyweight history.


With all the trash talk before hand, fans expected the stadium to be set a light, but for 11 rounds this was not to be.

The fight started at a snail pace with Briggs taking it by being the aggressor. However, the remaining ten rounds both fighters remained cautious with nobody really taking control. This brought boos from the expectant crowd.

Going into the final round fans expected the same old from both fighters. Sergei was up on points by the judges and found himself in a comfort zone. Briggs on the other hand knew he had to pull something out the bag with constant reminders from his corner that he losing the fight. Both fighters started the final round cautiously, exchanging a few a combos. Briggs began to take control and landed a flurry of unanswered punches and knocked the champion down in the corner. Sergei struggled to stand and used the ropes for support. The referee let a dazed looking Liakovich continue giving him the benefit of the doubt knowing that he was winning the fight still. Briggs immediately went on the attack, and Sergei was unable to respond, falling through the ropes and onto the judges table. Briggs became the first heavyweight champion in Phoenix.
 
 
Juan Diaz vs Fernando Angulo
WBA  Lightweight Championship
 

Diaz remained unbeaten and retained his WBA lightweight title in an explosive bout at the Arizona Diamond Backs Stadium. Angulo started the fight the brighter, going straight on the attack and claiming some of the earlier rounds. By the 6th round Diaz found his range, and began to dictate the pace of the fight as Angulo struggled to land the shots. Diaz started to connect with some strong jabs and straight rights. Some late flurries from Angulo was not enough in the judges eyes, to take the title away from the champ. The judges rightly scored a unanimous decision.

Post fight press conference

Don King
"One of the most electrifying crowds I have had"
"I love Phoenix, I love the people of Phoenix"
"Sergei is the best Heavyweight out there, he beat the man, that beat the
man"
"Although there is the 7 foot 2 Russian, but we don't know how good he is
yet"
"Tonight was like when the late Rocky Marciano beat Charles, 'Gimme one more
round'

Shannon Briggs
"It feels real good man"
"I can go to my grave now saying I've done something"
"My corner kept getting on at me, 'You're losing rounds'!
"I felt that he wasn't winning, just bouncing around"
"12th round, Chuck Mcgregor gave me a tongue lashing, he said, 'you're
losing, this is your life"

When asked, what changed in the 12th round?
"I had to put it on the line"
"My mom died of an overdose on my birthday 12/4/96, she was looking down on
me"


"I could have been in better shape, more running"
"I said I was going to bring the belt back to America and I did"
"I was a nobody from nobodysville, I'm somebody now, Heavyweight Champ of
the World"

The stat was mentioned that Shannon has knocked out 29/30 fighters within
the first round,
Shannon responded,
"I hit him in the 1st round which would have knocked anybody else out, I
knew this was going to be a tough fight from then"
"I love phoenix, I'm coming back"
"I'm a puncher, that's what I like to do"
"I dieted well, no dairy, no yeast.......I'm a junk food junkie"
"He's a busy fighter, I didn't want to shoot my load to early"

When told by a reporter that he was losing on points after the 11th, he
responded,
"I though I was winning, WOW!"
"Whilst training for the fight, for a long time I was thinking, this shit's
not working, I need to get a job"

Who Next?
"I'm going after Klitschko.....Dons got to make it happen"

Don King
"Great to have an American Heavy weight champion again"
"Maybe we can go right into Klitschko"

 on Sergei
"This is a young man that I am very proud of"

Sergei
Did you know you were leading going into the 12th?

"I thought it was a close fight"

How did you feel going into the 12th Round?

I thought it was close. I hadn't made any mistakes. I will be back. I gave
Shannon a chance, I hope he gives me a rematch.

"Not surprise, he's an experienced guy, we prepared for 12 rounds."

What about the bad blood between you?

Shannon
" I was just B.S.ing man, I said he was a great fighter. He has hand speed,
he moves. I had nothing but respect for you."

"I'm a salesman, ugly but funny"
"Thanks for giving me another shot"

Don King
"This is Hollywood, you don't get better than this'
"Americans talk trash, that's something that foreigners don't understand
yet"

Shannon (on a rematch)
"it's not gonna happen, this is the toughest Russian in the world, can't you
give me an easier one"

Don King for president"

Juan Diaz vs Fernando Angulo
WBA  Lightweight Championship

Diaz remained unbeaten and retained his WBA lightweight title in an
explosive bout at the Arizona Diamond Backs Stadium.
Angulo started the fight the brighter, going straight on the attack and
claiming some of the earlier rounds. By the 6th round Diaz found his range,
and began to dictate the pace of the fight as Angulo struggled to land the
shots. Diaz started to connect with some strong jabs and straight rights.
Some late flurry's from Angulo was not enough in the judges eyes, to take the
title away from the champ. The judges rightly scored a unanimous decision.