Paul Briggs: "Don't Blink!"

May 6, 2005

By Rick Scharmberg

Photo: Team Briggs

Photo: T.Z. Photo - Ted Pacyga

Photo: T.Z. Photo - Ted Pacyga

Paul "Hurricane" Briggs, of Australia is a former kickboxing world champion who hopes to reach the same pinnacle in conventional boxing on May 21, when he faces Poland's Tomasz Adamek for the vacant WBC light heavyweight title. The bout will take place at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois underneath Andrew Golota's challenge of champion Lamon Brewster for the heavyweight crown. With Briggs as the #1 rated contender in the WBC, then-champion Antonio Tarver elected to face fellow light heavyweight champ Glen Johnson, rather than face Briggs. The WBC title became vacant, opening the door for Briggs vs. Adamek. Adamek is rated #4 by the WBC.

Briggs (23-1, 17 KOs) is taking on Adamek (28-0, 20 KOs) in Chicago - Adamek's base in the USA - in front of what is expected to be a huge crowd of rowdy Polish fans. Paul Briggs is a competitor, though, and will be ready for them. "The crowd will present absolutely no problem," said Briggs from his training camp in Big Bear, California. "I fought in front of huge crowds and hostile crowds all over the world. When we get in the ring, it will be just him and I. I'll pick up on the crowd's energy and use it as fuel for me."

Both fighters have respect for each other, but Briggs feel he is more battle-tested, and will look to engage the more technical Adamek in a war. He said of Adamek, "He is a very well schooled boxer fighting in a world title fight. I am expecting the fight of my life, as I do every time I enter the ring. I feel that he hasn't been in a real fight yet. He hasn't been hurt. Still, it should be an exciting fight.

"He is probably right when he described my style as that of a street fighter," continued Paul. "But he is going to be in for a big shock because I've improved 100 per cent. Because of the delays, I've been training 9 months for this fight, and I've had a lot of time to improve my technique. He is technically good, but this is a fight, and you need more than technique to win a fight. How will he handle being in front of a real fighter? I know what it's like to be hurt and come back to win."

As a 15 year old, Briggs was already fighting in professional kickboxing bouts. At age 17, he traveled to Thailand to train with the best kickboxers in the world, and at 19 he won the WKA super middleweight world championship. As one can expect, Paul considers kickboxing to be the more violent and brutal sport. "I liken it to tennis and squash," said Briggs when comparing boxing to kickboxing. "Both are played with racquets on a court, but they are different sports. You need mental strength. You only have two weapons in a boxing ring. But in kickboxing you have eight, counting feet, knees, and elbows."

Does Paul Briggs miss kickboxing? "Yes and no," he said. "Win, lose, or draw, at the highest level in kickboxing you get hurt. Even if you knock a bloke out in two rounds, you still get hurt. I don't miss the damage to the body. I love what I am doing now."

What is surprising is that Paul's most satisfying victory wasn't his fourth round stoppage of Aussie rival Glen Kelly. Nor was it his clear-cut victory over former world champion Jorge Castro, or either of his WBC title eliminators against Jesus Cruz (W 12) or Stipe Drews (W 12). "My most satisfying performance to date probably came in kickboxing. I met a world champion who had never before been stopped before, and I knocked him out in two rounds."

Mental preparation plays a big part in Paul's training. "I do a lot of mental exercises for the subconscious mind, and I've done them for years," said Briggs. "I do training that will strengthen you mentally. Being aware of mental strength is important. Other fighters do not realize that. I am always aware of what my body and mind are doing. Boxing is 99 per cent mental and 1 per cent physical."

Paul's physical training is taking place in the mountains of Big Bear, California, under the guidance of Jack Mosley. "All I've been doing is eating, sleeping, and training. Everything I do is all about this fight," states Briggs, as he describes his training camp. "It is a beautiful place up here, training in altitude. We are leaving nothing to chance. Jack is putting me through the ringer.

"Jack and I have been working together for just over one year," continued Paul, as he described his relationship with his trainer. "In all that time there was only one day when he didn't have a smile on his face, and he had a good reason for it. He is passionate about what he does, and he always gives 150 per cent. He brings things right out of the box, so training is never boring with him. His fitness and intensity is awesome, and he really understands the body. I love working with him."

With a world title fight just weeks away, the fighter gears up for a monumental battle. Briggs states, "This is going to be an awesome fight for the light heavyweight title. I'm not really well known in the US, but it will be a great fight for fans in the US and around the world. He's not going to be the same man. Win, lose, or draw, I will take a piece of him with me."

So the stage is set. It will be a classic boxer versus puncher matchup, with Adamek boxing and Briggs trying to force the issue. "Tomasz will bring out the best in me," said Paul. "I have awesome power, and he'll bring it out of me. Don't blink!"

Questions? Comments? Email Rick Scharmberg