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BRIGGS
MAKES FIRST TITLE DEFENSE AGAINST IBRAGIMOV ON MARCH 10
New York, January 10 — It’s the first heavyweight championship fight of
2007, and on Saturday night, March 10th, at Madison Square Garden’s
Theater in New York City, Sultan Ibragimov hopes to take his first step
towards becoming the sport’s next great heavyweight when he challenges
hometown hero and champion Shannon Briggs for the WBO Heavyweight
Championship of The World.
HBO will televise this high-impact 12 round showdown - which is
presented by Seminole Warriors Boxing Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions,
and Golden Grain, in association with Madison Square Garden – live
beginning at 10pm ET / on delay 10pm PT.
“Sultan Ibragimov has long been seen as the future of the heavyweight
division, and we’re pleased to finally announce that the future is
here,” said Leon Margules, Executive Director of Seminole Warriors
Boxing Promotions. “And I can’t think of a better place to crown a new
champion than in the Garden, where legends like Muhammad Ali, Joe Joe
Frazier, Joe Louis, and Rocky Marciano all thrilled fight fans.”
“Sultan Ibragimov is an exciting young fighter and he’s earned his title
shot,” said Briggs, “but there’s no way I’m giving up my belt, and
absolutely no chance of me losing in front of my hometown fans. I’m here
to stay, and Ibragimov’s gonna have to chase after another belt, because
he’s not getting mine.”
Said Ibragimov, “The road to get here wasn’t easy and I made a lot of
sacrifices, but on March 10th I expect that all my hard work will pay
off when I get to put the WBO heavyweight championship belt around my
waist.”
Tickets, priced at $1005, $605, $355, $205, $105, $80 and they go on
sale Friday, January 12, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. at all Ticketmaster locations
and the Madison Square Garden box office.
.
A 2000 Olympic Silver medalist for Russia, Sultan Ibragimov (19-0-1, 16
KOs) turned pro in 2002 with a first round knockout of Tracy Williams –
in fact, his first four fights ended in opening round victories. By
2004, Ibragimov relocated to Florida and began making a name for himself
on the US scene. He won the WBO Asia-Pacific title in October of 2004 by
knocking out Najee Shaheed in the third round, and he defended that
crown six times. Among his victims were former world champion Al Cole
and contenders Lance Whitaker and Zuri Lawrence.
In July of 2006, Ibragimov battled Ray Austin in one of the best
heavyweight fights of 2006 and after trading knockdowns with ‘The
Rainman’, a 12 round draw verdict was rendered, though most observers
believed Ibragimov deserved the nod. The WBO seemed to agree as
Ibragimov earned the number one spot in the organization and a shot at
Briggs.
A longtime contender known for his charisma and knockout power, Shannon
Briggs (48-4-1, 42 KOs) has been a pro since 1992, but amazingly, he’s
only 35 years old. A native of the same Brownsville, Brooklyn
neighborhood that produced Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe, Briggs was a
can’t miss prospect as he moved up the pro ranks. But after he suffered
his first loss to Darroll Wilson in 1996, the bandwagon emptied.
Briggs stood the course though, winning his next five fights, including
a decision over the legendary George Foreman. That victory earned him a
shot at world champion Lennox Lewis in March of 1998, and even though
Briggs was stopped in five rounds, his championship heart earned him a
new legion of fans.
After a rollercoaster series of fights over the next few years, Briggs
did some serious soul searching and began on the road back to the title,
winning 12 fights in a row, all by knockout. The capper, of course, was
his stirring 12th round TKO win over Sergei Liakhovich last November,
and now in 2007, fight fans have not only a charismatic champion at the
helm of the division, but a hungry and talented challenger waiting to
take that belt away.
An exciting undercard will be announced at a later date.
To purchase tickets to Briggs-Ibragimov, please call Ticketmaster:
212-307-7171, or visit the Garden Box Office or thegarden.com
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