You are in > manchester.com  > News > Ibragimov takes Briggs' heavyweight crown

Boxing

Ibragimov takes Briggs' heavyweight crown

03/06/2007

Russian Sultan Ibragimov beats champion Shannon Briggs on points for the WBO heavyweight championship in Atlantic City.

After 12 rounds neither man could find the knockout blow but the judges were unanimous in their decision to award the fight to Ibragimov - scoring it 119-109, 117-111 and 115-113.

Though Briggs was much bigger than his opponent he was not nimble enough to contain him and the 32-year-old Russian was able to pick the American off easily.

Ibragimov began to up the tempo in the ninth round and as Briggs visibly began to tire, the Russian landed with a series of blows that shook the defending champion.

In the next round Ibragimov floored Briggs but the 35-year-old found it within himself to get back up and finish the contest.

Briggs offered little in the way of an attacking threat and Ibragimov was rightly awarded the fight.

The American claimed he was still suffering from the aftermath of a bout of pneumonia which had prevented him from taking on Ibragimov back in March.

He said: "I have been taking all kinds of antibiotics. I couldn't train for the last two weeks.

"I really didn't want to fight, but if I pulled out they threatened to sue me and they would have stripped me [of the title]."

Ibragimov now has a record of 21 wins and one draw from his 22 professional fights. Briggs has now lost five times in 54 bouts and at 35 years of age may be thinking about retirement.

© Adfero Ltd