You are in > manchester.com  > News > Briggs' belt the carrot for Skelton and Harrison

Boxing

Briggs' belt the carrot for Skelton and Harrison

08/11/2006

Matt Skelton and Audley Harrison could have the added incentive of a world title shot awaiting the winner when they square off against one another next month.

The two British heavyweights meet for the Commonwealth title at the ExCel Arena in London's Docklands on December 9th, a fight being promoted by Frank Warren.

And speaking on his official website today, Warren revealed he is trying to set up a title bout for the winner against new World Boxing Organisation (WBO) champion Shannon Briggs, represented by famed promoter Don King.

American fighter Briggs won the WBO belt, the least prestigious of the four boxing organisations, with a last-gasp stoppage of previous champion Sergei Liakhovich on Saturday.

"I'll be talking to Don in the next few days, and hopefully we can come up with some kind of plan," Warren said.

"Like all the current heavyweight champions, Briggs is very beatable, but that makes the division exciting at the moment.

"Hopefully there will be an opportunity for the winner of Skelton-Harrison in the new year."

A potential stumbling block in Warren's plans could be that Briggs appears likely to fight mandatory challenger Sultan Ibragimov within the next 90 days.

The Russian southpaw is co-represented by Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar De La Hoya and he insists a fight with Briggs will be arranged.

"We're looking forward to speaking with Don and getting this bout done as quickly as possible," light middleweight legend De La Hoya said.

"We're confident that Sultan Ibragimov is the next heavyweight champion of the world, and we're eager to see him beat Shannon Briggs and put that championship belt around his waist."

© Adfero Ltd