Shannon "The Cannon" Briggs entertained himself, and the scores of Hall of Famers in attendance at Verona, N.Y. with a brutal battering of one Abraham "African Assassin" Okine that was halted at the :54 seconds mark of round three.

On that note, one could say the annual Hall of Fame festivities got things off with a bang - Briggs, performing in a relaxed style first dropped Okine with a left hook in the opening stanza. Liked it enough to drop his victim again with a second hook just prior to the bell coming to the rescue.

Uneventful round two saw Briggs using the candle as a refresher before once again looking to close the show in stanza three - the end came quickly with a Briggs monster double left hook  that was followed with a booming overhand right that dropped Okine.

Referee Charlie Fitch surprisingly gave the African gamer a count, before deciding enough is enough.

Briggs is now 42-4-1, 36 KOs - Okine 14-1, 8.  

Post Scripts: Briggs ~ Had the ideal target in novice Okine to display his skills. Thus we got to see the big Brooklyn heavy at his best. Conceded he needs to shed some poundage - was 261 for this one - before once again testing the waters where the contenders play.
                     Okine ~ Suffered first defeat after 14 undefeated kept appointments with 8 coming by knockout - displayed heart but little else come the skills department. Briggs was quoted as being insulted that the African brain (?) trust dared pursue him for opponent.  And doesn’t that sum things up.

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Semi-final lightweight affair saw Raymond "Sugar Ray" Narh of 14-1, 13 KO’s fame making short work of a hapless Donnell Logan ( 8-2-1, 4 KOs) with a series of punches that he capped with a left hook to the solar plexus in opening stanza.

Narh looks well schooled - for future reference it should be noted, the one debit on the work application was first round knockout defeat at hands of Almazbek "Kid Diamond" Raiymkulov. On that note, jury still out on the latest "sugar."

Donnell Logan ~ Less said the better. Among the kid’s eight victims was one Chris Burford that dropped three decisions to him. At last peek, the guy is currently at 5-26-1. Don’t ask, I have no clue how this Burford remains licensed as a breathing heavy bag.

Closing comments: Referee Charles Fitch is clearly a step up from the norm we usually catch on these ESPN2 touring carnival shows. Maybe let Briggs-Okine go a bit longer than he might have. But works in cool, calm demeanor - refreshing change from the at-times, tank town lunatic fringe variety.

GEL

.6-10-2005

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