Agenda 05:

Briggs over troubled waters

By Mike C Ryan

 

 

It's a long trek Paul Briggs has trudged, from the first promise of a world title fight in March 2004, to 12 March, 2005, the night when it will be delivered.

Nearly a year ago, Briggs beat Jesus Ruiz in a close 12-rounder billed "WBC light-heavyweight title eliminator."

WBC titleholder, Roy Jones Junior set his own rules about defending. So Briggs found himself in another WBC title eliminator on 8 August, this time thumping the undefeated Croat, Stipe Drews in a clear 12-round decision.

In the balance of the year, Jones went from "World's Best Pound for Pound" to usta-be: knocked out by Antonio Tarver and then by Glencoffe Johnson.

So,it was Briggs versus Tarver for the title - until Tarver walked out on it, laying aside the WBC belt to fight Johnson for bigger stakes.

Don King had signed as Briggs' promoter while Jack Mosley managed him. King announced that Briggs would contest the vacant title with Tom Ulrich of Germany or Tom Adamek of Poland.
It didn't go on in December, or on the announced date, 15 January at Madison Square Garden.

But fate should deliver to Paul Hurricane Briggs at the Garden on 12 March.

Kicking on

The fair haired Californian originally from Nerang, Queensland made his first name as a kick boxer. "Paul notched 53 wins in 56 fights," Australia's most read boxing writer, Jon Anderson of the Melbourne Herald Sun, wrote in the last print FIGHTER.
"At 19 he was world kick boxing champion. Japanese fans carried Paul Briggs dolls."

Still 19, Briggs made his Queenberry debut against Ronald Doo, a Commonwealth title fighter having his 58th Queensberry fight.
The 10-round thumping was Doo's last.

Paul met his only loss of 24 fights in his second Queensberry match three years on.

But after settling down to hard training under Rod Waterhouse, in 2000 Briggs blasted out the best Australians, Dan Rowsell, Jamie Wallace, Tosca Petridis and Adrian Bellin, this last for the national title.

In 2002 Paul finished Roy Jones' world title opponent, Glen Kelly in four rounds, half the time Jones took. In 2003 Paul whaled the ex-WBA champ Jorge Castro. Jorge was in his 133rd match (122 wins). Castro 's 141st fight is coming up next week in Argentina.

The Ruiz and Drews eliminators made Briggs the WBC "must." Sugar Shane Mosley's dad, Jack Mosley has installed our Aussie as the pride of Pomona, California.

The last barrier to the title stands in Tomasz Adamek of Poland. This international amateur turned pro in 1999 and collected 28 straight wins in Europe.
Aged 28, a year younger than Briggs, Tomasz is now in Chicago soaking up American ways from fellow Pole, Andrew Golota.

The same New York Polish fans I saw at the Garden waving hundreds of red and white flags when Golota got a raw deal against John Ruiz, will no doubt be there again cheering Adamek against the Australian Hurricane.

Paul Briggs is about to become Australia's third million-dollar fighter. He will soon be out-earning all but the incomparable Tszyu.

 

Mick O'Brien's Olympic Boxing Academy Phone/Fax: 61 08 9445 2667       Mobile: 0417 936 707