Former world champion Shannon "The Cannon" Briggs will face Puerto Rican contender Fres Oquendo for the vacant "regular" heavyweight title of the World Boxing Association (WBA), confirmed Nicaraguan consultant Ricardo Rizzo, who represents the company Heavyweight Factory - who are based in Florida.
"We finally got the fight for Briggs. It will be a great opportunity to be crowned against a fighter like Oquendo, who has been inactive for more than two years because of a lawsuit he had filed against the sanctioning body," Rizzo explained from Miami.
"Precisely because of that legal demand, Oquendo will receive this opportunity to fight for the vacant title with Briggs ... We got the fight and the company that I represent, Heavyweight Factory, will be in charge of organizing it at the Hard Rock or some stage in Jamaica. We just have to define the date of the fight."
On Wednesday, Rizzo received the official confirmation of the fight from George Martinez, president of the WBA's World Championships Committee, in which he invited both parties to reach an agreement to carry out this fight for the vacant heavyweight title.
It is explained, that both were selected because they are the highest ranked available contenders, with Briggs in 4th place and Oquendo in 5th. They will have no more than 30 days to negotiate the match, and the winner will have the obligation to defend the title against Russia's Alexander Ustinov, who is ranked third under the WBA.
If there is no agreement between Briggs and Oquendo, the WBA could call for a purse bid, which would pay 50 percent to each contender. But Rizzo said the negotiations are advanced and he does not believe that "Heavyweight Factory" will have any problems with organizing this fight in the United States or Jamaica.
Briggs, 45, has a record of 60-6-1 with 53 knockouts. He was heavyweight champion of the World Boxing Organization.
Oquendo, 43, has a record of 37-8, with 24 wins by knockout.. He challenged for a heavyweight title on three occasions, losing in his last attempt in July 2014 against Ruslan Chagaev, for the same WBA heavyweight title.
"We finally got the fight for Briggs. It will be a great opportunity to be crowned against a fighter like Oquendo, who has been inactive for more than two years because of a lawsuit he had filed against the sanctioning body," Rizzo explained from Miami.
"Precisely because of that legal demand, Oquendo will receive this opportunity to fight for the vacant title with Briggs ... We got the fight and the company that I represent, Heavyweight Factory, will be in charge of organizing it at the Hard Rock or some stage in Jamaica. We just have to define the date of the fight."
On Wednesday, Rizzo received the official confirmation of the fight from George Martinez, president of the WBA's World Championships Committee, in which he invited both parties to reach an agreement to carry out this fight for the vacant heavyweight title.
It is explained, that both were selected because they are the highest ranked available contenders, with Briggs in 4th place and Oquendo in 5th. They will have no more than 30 days to negotiate the match, and the winner will have the obligation to defend the title against Russia's Alexander Ustinov, who is ranked third under the WBA.
If there is no agreement between Briggs and Oquendo, the WBA could call for a purse bid, which would pay 50 percent to each contender. But Rizzo said the negotiations are advanced and he does not believe that "Heavyweight Factory" will have any problems with organizing this fight in the United States or Jamaica.
Briggs, 45, has a record of 60-6-1 with 53 knockouts. He was heavyweight champion of the World Boxing Organization.
Oquendo, 43, has a record of 37-8, with 24 wins by knockout.. He challenged for a heavyweight title on three occasions, losing in his last attempt in July 2014 against Ruslan Chagaev, for the same WBA heavyweight title.
Article courtesy of Notifight.com
Subscribe to the Ringside Reporter
