Heavyweight Confrontation In A Hollywood Restaurant
HOLLYWOOD (CBSMiami) - Two heavyweights in the boxing world squared off in South Florida inside a Hollywood restaurant and a video of the confrontation between instigator and former heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs and heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has garnered nearly 4 million views on YouTube.
The video shows Briggs briskly walking up to Klitschko's table and telling him, "What's up champ? Wherever you go, I go, Champ."
Briggs barely took a breath during the brief, mostly one-way discussion, "You train, I train, Champ. Let's fight, Champ."
Briggs grabbed Klitschko's lunch, sat down and started eating. Klitschko seemed stunned. Klitschko then offered Briggs something to drink, poured some water into a glass and dumped it on Briggs' head. Briggs got up, whipped plates off the table, stumbled, fell and left the restaurant as a man inside screamed, "Take it outside!"
In an exclusive interview with CBS 4 News on Monday night, Briggs admitted that he went looking for Klitschko.
"I got some word that he was in the neighborhood," Briggs told CBS 4's Carey Codd. "I live on Hollywood Beach, as well. I was like, 'You know what? Let me drive around.' I drove around. I seen him in the restaurant and it was on."
Click here to WATCH CBS4's Carey Codd's report
This isn't the first time Briggs has tracked Klitschko down in South Florida and publicly challenged him to a bout, clearly trying to get under the Klitschko's skin. In one of the other confrontations, Briggs threw a shoe at Klitschko. Briggs makes no apologies for his actions.
"I'm in phenomenal shape," Briggs said. "I want the world to know this is not an act. This is not a joke. This is serious."
Briggs said this is about more than Klitschko. He said it's about bringing excitement back to heavyweight boxing and national pride.
"I'm the last American heavyweight champion," he said. "I want to show the people that boxing's still alive. Heavyweight boxing is still alive. I'm gonna knock out Wladimir Klitschko. I'm gonna bring the belt back to America."
Briggs says wherever Klitschko is in South Florida, he can expect to see Shannon Briggs. But Briggs says he might first make a detour back to this restaurant and enjoy a meal similar to Klitschko's.
"Man, he was eating some delicious pasta to be honest with you over at Mamma Mia's. I'm gonna go over there, if I'm allowed," Briggs said, laughing.
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