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COVER STORY

Briggs Survives Scare vs. Ruiz, ekes out decision

      In Centre Ring

Leading light-heavyweight contender in the WBC, powerful Queenslander Paul “Hurricane” Briggs, overcame a slow start and a second-round knockdown to outpoint tough Mexican Jesus “Choo Choo” Ruiz at the Penrith Leagues Club on March 7.

Judges Brad Vocale (Australia), Victor Cervantes (Mexico), and Bruce
McTavish (New Zealand) carded 117-113, 114-113, and 116-112, all for the Australian, who now is in line to challenge the winner of the Roy Jones-Antonio Tarver rematch slated for May 15.

With the win, Briggs improved to 22-1 (17 KOs). Ruiz dropped to 18-4 (16 KOs).

The taller Ruiz was the more aggressive early, charging forward with
powerful lefts and rights while a tentative Briggs was content to be the counterpuncher. Late in round two, the Mexican scored with a crisp right hand, landed near the ropes as the Hurricane backed away with his hands down, which sent Briggs to the canvas. He immediately rose and finished out the round on equal footing, although Ruiz seemed to be growing in
confidence.

Choo Choo controlled the action through to round four, but by the fifth he began to show signs of fatigue, and was reduced for the most part to working in spots. Briggs took advantage, gaining the upper hand with sharp left hands and side-to-side movement.

He continued to dominate the fight behind a strong left jab, rocking the fiery Mexican in the eighth, and sweeping the ensuing three rounds purely on his work rate.

Briggs allowed Ruiz to come back in the twelfth by slowing his output, and the Mexican capitalized, charging forward and throwing bombs, which although mostly ineffective, were impressive to the eye and swayed the round in his favour.

But it would have no impact on the final outcome. Briggs was a close, albeit clear winner, and his post-fight comments were a shock to the ringside audience.

“I don't care what my management says, I don't care what anyone says, first and foremost I am a warrior and I do not feel like I won this fight,” he surprisingly said.

"This fight was unbelievable for me. It's exactly what I needed... our plan now is to go over to L.A. for the next two-three months and work hard and obviously take the title off Tarver."

Even more shocking than his skewed view of the fight is that Briggs’
longtime trainer Rod Waterhouse will not be part of the latter plan. The 28-year-old Briggs announced in the following days that his time with Waterhouse had run its course, and he now will pursue his career in the USA. The Ring magazine 2003 trainer of the year, Freddie Roach is expected to take over the reins.

In Supporting bouts:

Light-middleweight Shannan Taylor retained the IBF Pan Pacific strap with a convincing points verdict over known survivor, Paulo Sanchez. Scores were 118-110, 119-109, and 120-108. Taylor, hopeful of another shot at a world title, moved to 37-3-2 (24 KOs). Sanchez is now 31-19 (15 KOs).

Straight off an impressive performance against Sharmba Mitchell for the ‘interim’ IBF light-welter strap last month, Lovemore N’dou looked sharp, stopping game but outclassed Thailander, Kiatchai 13 Riantower in four rounds. N’dou is now 37-6-1 (23 KOs). Riantower, 21, fell to 16-2 (11 KOs).

WBC #1 junior-featherweight Nedal “Skinny” Hussein displayed his
world-class bodypunching, annihilating the usually game Donny Suratin in 61 seconds with a thumping left body rip. Hussein upped his record to 32-1 (19 KOs), while Suratin moves down to 15-6 (6 KOs).

Sam “King” Soliman successfully defended his middleweight IBF Pan Pacific belt, giving Argentinean, Jorge Andres Sclarandi a boxing lesson on the way to an eight round corner retirement stoppage. Soliman, the IBF #5 and WBC #7 is now 24-7 (7 KOs). The ancient Sclarandi dropped to 28-20-1 (2 KOs).

At lightweight, Australian-based Ethiopian, Johnny Shiffiraw won an
eight-round decision over Argentine, Diego Martin Alzugaray. Shiffiraw is now 4-2 (2 KOs). Alzugaray fell to 13-7-4 (2 KOs).

Tosca Ptridis captured the Australian Cruiserweight title via a fifth-round stoppage (cut eye) over Roy Alexander trained Brett Smith. The 37-year-old Petridis moves to 9-5-1 (5KOs). Smith is now 8-2-2 (3 KOs).

At super-middleweight, Sydney Olympian and 2002 Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, Paul Miller stopped Peter Rudd in three. Miller is now 3-0-1 (3). Rudd fell to 4-6-2 (2).

That’s all for now. Any thoughts/suggestions? Drop me an email at icemanalt@aol.com