Shannon Briggs interprets Vitali Klitschko’s asthma comment as derogatory, dedicates knockout to cause
Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs (51-5, 45 KOs) would like to give back to the asthmatic community.
A long-time asthma sufferer, the heavyweight fighter has dedicated his upcoming bout with WBC champion Vitali Klitschko, projected a knockout, to asthma sufferers the world over.
In recent days Klitschko was quoted as saying that Briggs’s asthma was mainly propagated as an “excuse” for much of his career. Similarly, WBA heavyweight champion David Haye called Briggs “Shannon ‘I
Need My Asthma Pump Briggs.’” Briggs found the comments disheartening and derogatory and wished to set the record straight.
Klitschko had said: “In addition to Briggs, I know many boxers who—in spite of asthma—became world champions. This is not a deadly disease. Look at his fights, and you will understand that asthma—it's
just a good excuse.”
Briggs, who will tap gloves with Klitschko 16 October at the O2 World Arena in Hamburg, Germany, is outraged by Klitschko’s alleged dismissal of the condition.
On the other hand, Klitschko wasn’t dismissing the condition in general; just saying that in Brigg’s particular case asthma is more a convenient scapegoat than a fatal problem. This possibility has apparently
been completely overlooked by Briggs.
"There are 300 million people in the world with asthma and not one of them would agree with Vitali Klitschko that it's nothing serious. Isn't he supposed to be a doctor? A doctor of what???" Briggs exclaimed.
He continued: "I have been in the trenches of this deadly disease and seen the heartbreak it causes. I spend every day trying to convince young people stricken with it that they can be anything they
want in life, despite their challenges. What the world doesn't need is someone who's supposed to be a role model dismissing their condition as no big deal. These kids are not faking and neither am I."
Briggs suggested he is going to use the comments to light his fire in the ring. Though he will be an underdog going into the bout, Briggs is a long-time knockout artist with the tenacity to come back
unexpectedly.
"I am now personally dedicating my knockout punch to the sufferers of asthma worldwide that Vitali has offended,” Briggs affirmed. “I plan on being a three-time world champion who respects people and
their challenges."
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