WHEN George Foreman?s name was brought up as an opponent for me I was initially thrown back. You have to remember that after I?d lost to Darroll Wilson, I was considered damaged goods particularly after everything that Teddy Atlas had said after we split. I felt alone and my management didn?t seem to have any confidence in me.
My manager at that time, Marc Roberts, was calling me and offering me short notice fights. I knew I was being used as a stepping stone. I also knew I was better than that. I was offered a fight with Lou Savarese which I had agreed to and then when that was cancelled at the last minute they offered me fight with Joe Hipp, a southpaw, instead. I didn?t feel like I was getting a fair shot in a tough fight with a southpaw so I turned it down. Someone from HBO called me personally, bypassed my manager, and told me if I didn?t take the fight I would never fight on HBO again. It was all wrong to me.
Then, a week later, the George Foreman fight came up. I knew I had to take it. I was only 25 but I felt it was my last chance and I was desperate to prove these people wrong.
When I got into the ring with him it was surreal; I was in the ring with a living legend. This is the guy I?d watched footage of against Muhammad Ali, I?d watched him knock out Joe Frazier. You have to understand that the progression from a kid who only had 33 amateur fights to being in the ring with this great heavyweight was all happening really fast. Even though I had a lot of professional fights at the time, I had been groomed a certain way. I was still learning.
I tried to put on my best Muhammad Ali impression and box George Foreman. I decided against using the ?rope-a-dope? because I knew that wouldn?t work for me! That was my plan, stay off the ropes, and box, box, box. That?s what I did and if you watch the fight, all he did was follow me around, all he landed was his jab and one big right hand, and I felt I deserved my victory.
Having said that, his punches were unreal. I remember in the first round and I hit him with my best right hand and he just blinked a little bit. Then he broke my nose with the first jab he threw. I felt my nose snap and I thought, ?How am I here in this small ring with George Foreman being hit like this?!?
People questioned the decision but look at the close fights he had before that went his way, against Lou Savarese, Axel Schulz, even Alex Stewart. This time, I got the decision. It went my way and I am always proud to say that I fought George Foreman and I got the decision over him.
After the fight a famous black sportscaster, Art Rust, called me up at home as part of his show. He was saying the decision was a disgrace, that it was fixed, he was being completely rude to me. I said ?With all due respect sir, I came on your show to answer questions. The way you?re treating me is very disrespectful. Think about it, it would be to HBO?s benefit if Foreman won. Why would they fix it in my favour? I have too much respect for you to say anything rude so I?ll just say goodbye.?
I had just fought George Foreman, a respected fighter, broadcaster. I was Shannon Briggs without influence and no money. What Rust was saying was outrageous.
That all hurt me at the time, I got no recognition for it but I knew one thing and that was boxing. People say they?re a boxing fan but they can?t tell you anything. I knew boxing. I studied it, I explored the history from its origins, from when it was known as fisticuffs, from its inception in England. People in England gave me respect, they knew I was the heavyweight champion. I was the linear champion. I was the man who beat the man who beat the man who beat the man.
Lennox Lewis knew this too and that?s why he wanted to fight me. He had to beat the man.
