Is Shannon Briggs Finally Getting Serious?

Briggs won a third-round TKO over Abraham Okine last night. Briggs (42-4-1) knocked down Okine (14-1) twice in the first round and again in the third, at which point Okine's corner decided the meat was sufficiently tenderized. Okine did cut Briggs, who I'm still reluctant to think of as a contender, but Briggs had a convincing win that may well get him a big money fight in the near future. There are several fighters who could probably reap some career benefit with a victory over someone with such name recognition, even a guy known as such an underachiever.

Shannon Briggs as Lennox Lewis' Punching Bag, way back in 1998.

Briggs' last loss was in 2002 to big, strong, and slow, Jameel McCline, which I didn't see, but I have seen Briggs fight several times, including his KO loss to Lennox Lewis. I also saw his "draw" with Francois Botha, in which Briggs looked like a bum. Briggs has the tools, but hasn't shown dominance over a quality opponent. His "big win" over George "too old to bleed" Foreman wasn't even a unanimous decision. I read that he trains and promotes himself, mebbe that's part of his problem.