Shannon Briggs is in intensive care

[boxingbantz]

Heavyweight title challenger Shannon Briggs is reportedly in critical condition in the intensive care unit at the University Hospital Eppendorf in Hamburg, Germany. Briggs suffered fractures below both eyes as well as a concussion, after taking dozens of hard shots from WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko on Saturday night, but is responsive according to RTL. He also suffered a pulled tendon and torn muscle in his right arm.
Briggs was rushed to the hospital after the fight as doctors feared a possible cerebral hemorrhage after observing symptoms associated with neurological disturbances and drowsiness.

Referee Ian John-Lewis, who has received criticism for not stopping the fight, said he was within “one or two shots” of stopping it. “It was a heavyweight world championship,” he said. “These are tough guys and as long as a man fights back, you have to give him a chance.”

The referee and his corner, especially, should hang their heads in shame - there was no reason for him to be beaten so badly he has ended up in hospital. From what I could see, during round ten especially, Briggs WASN'T fighting back and it is the referee's responsibility to look after the boxer's welfare -even more so when his corner aren't doing him justice.

[skel1983]

Fucking hell that is awful, lets hop he pulls through.

[Youngblood]

Hope he recovers okay. Haven't seen this match but from what I've read it sounds like someone's head sound end up on a stick for it. But suppose I should really watch it first before making assumptions. One thing for sure it does is highlight how dangerous this sport is, given the nature of prolonged excessive head trauma possible.

[boxingbantz]

Apparently he was rushed to the hospital after the fight and then had surgery on his face.

[Mar]

I feel bad for the guy, and lean towards the side most do in saying the fight really should've been stopped. But at the same time it's hard for me to ultimatly blame the ref cause there is not any real consistancy when it comes to stopping these fights. Some get stopped to early and fans bitch, some get stopped to late and fans bitch. This fight and that last m aronutis (if that's how you spell it ) are two that looked like they went way too long. But this is a tough sport and as long as the guy is fighting back you'll always have those who belive in the "one great punch" that usually never lands but everyone tries to belive in. Tough call either way if you're the ref. I seriously doubt any ref intentially let's these guys go too far and gets off on guys dying or ending up in the hospital. I blame the corner more than anyone but this sport needs to look at making it more clear when these things should or shouldn't be stopped, cause hell i've seen darchiniyan beat the crap outta people just as bad early on and none of the fights were ever stopped.

[DaxxKahn]

Yeah some sad sad news to hear....In truth I am surprised he is doing as well as he is...He took some huge shots....I don't care what anyone says Shannon Briggs has one of the biggest hearts in boxing....His corner and the ref should both be ashamed...I don't know how either accepted paychecks for what happened....When you look at the fight yu could see in Briggs eyes between rounds he was hurt and not the type of hurt that just happens with fights but the type that youi can tell the man is in serious trouble...

I am a big fan of Shannons he has been done as a top fighter for years now but I have met him a bunch of times and he is a nice guy who goes out of his way for people all the time...

Lets just hope for the best

[boxingbantz]

The thing I found more uncomfortable, for some reason, was seeing him talking to himself as he was getting pummelled. I think you could tell he just wanted to be the hell out of there but didn't wanna be the one to pull himself out and seemed like he was waiting for the ref or his corner to stop it. The guy has tremendous heart and courage but it wasn't nice to see. As for people saying, he was fighting back, in the tenth he wasn't throwing anything back really and that's when it should've been stopped.

[Master]

Hope Briggs pulls through, did not think he would see the bell but he showed heart to do that.

[skel1983]

I think the ref to a certain extent is at fault but I just watched the fight and really it was his corners job to finish that fight, shame on them, Briggs even though was getting hammered and taking clean shot after clan shot h didn't look hurt and maybe the ref was in two minds, I would of stopped it about the 8th round but really his corner should have pulled him out.

[TheMacMagician]

Shit man, he must have sustained a real beating. I was actually looking forward to this but was out for the day and broke down somewhere in Stafford, miles from my home. Missed the whole damn thing. Hope Briggs is all good.

[TheMacMagician]

Seems the injury to his bicep is the worst he's got so hopefully he'll be sweet..

Shannon Briggs recovering in hospital after brutal defeat to Vitali Klitschko - ESPN

[No Contest]

Hopefully he makes a full recovery, he shouldnt have been put in that situation though. Hopefully some cornermen will learn from this and protect their fighters, instead of letting them decide, because they almost always fight on too long. He was taking alot of heavy rights to the side of the head, after seeing Shannon wobbled so badly in the 9th and little offense, being that he lost every round up until then , the corner really should have threw that towel.

[therealremi]

I watched Vitali-Sosnowski AFTER Vitali-Briggs. From that perspective Sosnowski looks like a really good heavyweight.
Congratulations to Briggs for having in his corner people who obviously don't give a damn about him.

[CFH]

I think the corner deserves most of the blame for not stopping it, but the ref should have stepped in by the 10th or 11th round.

[amat]

Sad news to hear hope he takes care. How bout the matchmakers? This fight was a joke from the beginning and probably should have been stopped before even starting.