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In a complete team effort, Seminole Warriors Boxing, Golden Boy Promotions, Golden Grain Promotions and Sampson Lewkowicz today won the promotional rights to the WBO heavyweight championship bout between their fighter, unbeaten Sultan Ibragimov, and champion Shannon Briggs.
The winning bid from Team Ibragimov was $2,501,000. Briggs' promoter, Don King, came in second at 1,501,000. The bout will be presented at a site and date to be announced soon.
"This is what happens when a team comes together and makes a concerted effort to get things done," said Leon Margules, Executive Director of Seminole Warriors Boxing. "We put together a spectacular bid, won it, and now we're going to get right to work to secure a venue and put on the best show we possibly can for fight fans around the world."
"From the moment I first saw him fight, I knew Sultan Ibragimov had the tools to become a world champion," said Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya. "Now, we're on the brink of seeing him fulfill his destiny by defeating Shannon Briggs and winning the WBO heavyweight title."
"The heavyweight championship is the most prestigious title in sports, and part of re-establishing it in the minds of the public is to promote it properly," said Boris Grinberg, manager of Ibragimov. "I am confident that the promotion of this fight will once again show why the heavyweight champion is truly the greatest athlete in the world."
Ibragimov, 19-0-1-(16) was pleased when informed that the purse bid was complete.
"All the business is done and now I can focus on training my hardest and knocking out Shannon Briggs," he said. "I have been waiting a long time for this moment, but all the sacrifices will be worth it when I get to put that WBO belt around my waist."
