Sat. Nov 2nd, 2024
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SHANNON BRIGGS is making a boxing comeback at the age of 51 and boasted that he is “still an animal”.

Briggs, a former WBO world champion, was a feared puncher during his prime and scored 37 first-round knockouts.

Shannon Briggs is making a boxing comeback at the age of 514

Shannon Briggs is making a boxing comeback at the age of 51Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Lennox Lewis knocked out Briggs in 19984

Lennox Lewis knocked out Briggs in 1998Credit: Reuters
Briggs lost to Vitali Klitschko in 2010

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Briggs lost to Vitali Klitschko in 2010Credit: AFP

But he was beaten by quality operators in Lennox Lewis – who scored a KO in 1998 – and Vitali Klitschko.

Briggs boxed up until 2016, stopping Emilio Zarate and then campaigning to fight David Haye.

Talks later broke down as Haye claimed the American wanted the bout on pay-per-view.

Briggs would spend year linked with a return against the likes of Lucas Browne, Alexander Ustinov and Fres Oquendo.

But in 2017, he was suspended for six months by the WBA after a failed drug tests for high levels of testosterone.

Briggs also tried to organise exhibitions with boxing icon Mike Tyson and UFC legend Rampage Jackson to no success.

Although he has now claimed his return is back on during a podcast interview with old rival Jackson.

Briggs said: “The only reason I haven’t been active is no body will fight me. They scared.

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“Listen, look at my resume. I’m 51, 000 years old and I still hit hard, I’m still an animal, look at me.

“You don’t lose power, no power lost and I can still take a punch.”

Briggs wants to fight for the world title once more and could try and break George Foreman’s record as oldest heavyweight champ, which is 46.

He said: “I’m coming back, yeah. This is my first fight. I’ll go on a ten fight run – that’s my goal.

“Yeah, I want to get back in shape, Champ. I want to give myself about a year of two, fight myself back into shape, and then I wanna go for something big, I want real boxers.

Briggs has not fought since 20164

Briggs has not fought since 2016Credit: Arfa Griffiths – The Sun

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