Boxing and Asthma – Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs Interview
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Former two time heavyweight champion, actor and asthma sufferer Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs reached out to the World Asthma Foundation (WAF) to talk to us about his boxing career, his struggles with Asthma since childhood and his support for Asthma suffers everywhere.
I spoke with Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs on his mobile phone in New York City, New York today in advance of his upcoming fight with Vitali Klitschko, October 16, 2010 in Hamburg Germany.
Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs is the last American to hold a heavyweight title, the only Asthma sufferer ever to win such honors and Shannon seems absolutely confident he will be the next. “I’m fighting for all of the Asthma Sufferers of the world and I hope that I can be inspiration to men, women and children not to give up on themselves” said Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs.
“Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs is truly a champion in more ways than one and is an inspiration to all Asthmatics around the globe. Asthmatics everywhere should stand up, root for and applaud this world class champion and outstanding spokesperson for the challenges of overcoming and living with Asthma” said William Cullifer, WAF Executive Director.
Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs grew up in Brooklyn, New York became New York City Golden Gloves champion, New York State Champion, National P.A.L. Champion and finished second place as a Heavyweight at the Panamerican Games in 1991,
In 1992 Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs became the United States Amateur Champion and was undefeated in his first 25 fights. Suffering only his first loss by undefeated Darroll Wilson in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1996. Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs went on to defeated the 49 year old George Foreman; with a lost to Lennox Lewis for the WBC heavyweight title.
Following Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs won theWBO heavyweight championship title when he knocked out Sergei Liakhovich in the last round in 2006. In your first title defense you went on to face Sultan Ibragimov on March 10, 2007; however you pulled out of the fight because he was diagnosed with “aspirational pneumonia.”
The fight was rescheduled fifty days later in Atlantic City you lost to unanimous decision. Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs us also an actor appearing on New York Undercover and in feature films Bad Boys 2 with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, Transporter 2, and The Wackness just to name a few.
Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs will fight with Vitali Klitschko, October 16, 2010 in Hamburg Germany. Details about the fight as well as post fight interviews to follow.