After having a fake fight with Mike Tyson on the streets of New York, Shannon Briggs says he wants a real one with Jake Paul.
The former heavyweight champ, 52, has issued Paul with a challenge ahead of the YouTuber’s blockbuster clash with Tyson this Friday. He said that if Paul secures a win at the AT&T Stadium, he plans to “avenge” his pal Tyson by fighting the 27-year-old internet sensation himself.
“I’d fight him anyway for all of that money, but definitely, if you do something to my big bro, Mike Tyson, I want to take the fight,” ‘The Cannon’ said speaking on behalf of Brownsville Gym and Academy, which is just a hop away from where he and Tyson grew up. “Brownsville sticks together, that’s our model. So if Mike does lose, I’ll take on Jake Paul in March,” he vowed.
Tyson and Briggs bumped into each other while the former was back on his old turf shooting footage for Netflix’s teaser series hyping up his bout with Paul. The boxers took off their t-shirts and playfully sparred, trading soft jabs before ending the scuffle with laughs and a big hug.
Briggs, one of the rare few to have triumphed over the iconic George Foreman, once trained Paul and has described the youngster, who is currently the bookies’ favourite for the match, as a “tough kid”. He said: “To see him step in the ring with Mike Tyson is absolutely amazing. I was just training a kid, and for him to even be doing this, respect to him.
“Everyone wants Mike to win but I just want Mike and Jake to make a lot of money, hit the after-party together, and have a good time. At the end of the day, it’s about feeding their families.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Paul boasts 10 victories from his 11 professional bouts to date. His sole defeat came against Tommy Fury – brother of Tyson Fury – back in 2023. Tyson represents the first high-profile career boxer that Paul has ever squared off against, albeit one who hasn’t fought professionally for nearly two decades.
The last time the so-called ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ fought professionally was in 2005 when he was defeated by Kevin McBride. He retired shortly afterwards with a record of 50 wins – 44 of which were knockouts – from 58 fights but has participated in two exhibition matches since, one in 2006 and another in 2020.
As for Briggs, he retired in 2016, having launched his career all the way back in 1992. He secured 60 victories from 68 bouts and held the WBO heavyweight title between 2006 and 2007.