SHANNON BRIGGS WANTS KLITSCHKO FIGHT

What's the latest and greatest, and when can we expect to see you back in the ring? I'll be returning on March 16th, I just had my first fight after almost 3 years off. I fought at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan, and I had a 1st round knockout over Marcus McGee. Unfortunately, I had a minor suspension, I'm sure you guys are familiar with and know about a minor suspension. Nothing crazy, just 35 days, something like that. I'll be fighting again on March 16th at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL."

GL: Do you have any idea who you'll be facing yet?

Shannon Briggs: Anybody can get it, anybody can get it. Tha'ts my motto. I think I will be fighting for two titles, the WBO title, as well as the WBC titles as well. Two titles in one night.

GL: What are your goals for 2010?

SB: I need somebody named Klitschko and somebody named Haye, let me know. Across the ring from me staring at him, either him or the referee are going to get their ass kicked that night.

GL: As a veteran of the game, what are your thoughts on some of the younger guys, particularly the Americans Arreola and Johnson, who made Vitali look awfully good in 2009?

SB: Both just weren't ready or seasoned enough. to be honest with you. I don't really know what they both had to add to that. I believe Johnson to be a very skilled fighter, a great left hand, a lot of heart. He's a guy who, back in the amatuer experience that I know of, was fighting tough fights from the beginning. He jumped in there and did great. I wouldn't say in did great in the Klitschko fight, but he did well in building a career for himself. It can only go up, coming after a loss like that. It's the same thing with Arreola, they were thrown in there kind of early, they weren't prepared for the big dance. The big dance is the big dance. That's why I tell people the truth of the matter, if not me, who? I'm the only guy big enough, fast enough, and strong enough, and experienced enough to go head to head with these guys, and be smart enough to know what to do and what not to do.

GL: Do you feel that you'll get a Klitschko across the ring, because Haye in unlikely since his whole year is pretty much lined up with boring fights? Do you think you'll be able to get a Klitschko across from you without first beating one of these unseasoned guys, like you described them, Arreola, Johnson, or maybe even somebody like Sam Peter? Do you think you'll get a Klitschko without beating one of them first?

SB: I'm not sure, to be honest, but I'm willing to take whatever path I have to take. I'm a two time former champion. If you want to call it straight up and down, Vitali took two years off and came back. In his first fight back, he got a shot at Sam Peter and won the title. I lost my fight with Ibragimov, I fought him with a walking pneumonia and it was a 12 round decision. Before that Wladimir wouldn't fight me. He waited until I lost it and then he fought the small guy that beat me in a sucky fight. I feel like I deserve a shot. I've been in the game for a long time, I've fought the best and I think people care about exciting fights and who puts asses in the seats. Shannon Briggs is a salesman. I've been a salesman my entire life and I'm going to promote the fight and I'm going to sell it. And then people know I can punch. People want to see two big men like me and Klitschko go at, so why not?

GL: So in your opinion it should only be a short amount of time before you land a Klitschko fight because they don't have many options as it relates to bringing an exciting fight to their fans.

SB: "That's the truth of the matter. They hand picked Arreola and Goossen threw him in there so they could make some money. The same thing with Kevin Johnson, he wasn't ready. Arreola is the type of guy who throws a lot of punchers for a big guy, but he's not a puncher. If you can get respect from the Klitschko's you have nothing, but let's rewind, these guys are doctors and if you give them nothing to think about they're going to have a field day. They'll out box you, out point you and pick you apart. You gotta be able to bang with these guys and let them know that you have the firepower to compete. Arreola was a punching bag with arms to be honest with you."