21.05.05 – By Tony Nobbs: An exciting few weeks for Australian boxing kicks off on Sunday when Californian based Queenslander Paul “Hurricane” Briggs (23-1, 17 KO) takes on unbeaten Pole Tomasz Adamek (28-0, 20 KO)at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois for the vacant WBC light heavyweight belt twice held by hard as nails Sydneysider Jeff Harding. Briggs-Adamek, will be the first bout shown on the DKP card in Australia headlined by the Lamon Brewster-Andrew Golota WBO heavyweight title scrap and fans are advised to be in front of their TV sets by 11 am AEST.
This is a much anticipated and long overdue shot for the former world Muay Thai super middleweight champion Briggs, and having already defeated three WBC top ten contenders, he promises not to leave the ring wondering.
The New Zealand born Briggs, 29, turned professional as a kickboxer at the age of fifteen and began his boxing career in 1994 taking a ten round decision over former Australian light middleweight champion and Commonwealth title challenger Ronald Doo (43-10-4-21 KO going in) in Brisbane. Three years later, in his second bout, he suffered the only defeat as a boxer, being stopped in three by journeyman Larl Zada.
Since resuming his boxing career, he has captured the Australian and OPBF 175 pound belts and the IBF Pan Pacific Cruiserweight title, highlighted by points victories over Stipe Drews, Jesus Ruiz and Jorge Castro and a four round knockout of Glenn Kelly in 2002, seven months after Kelly’s challenge to Roy Jones. While Adamek, 26, has not faced no where near the opposition of Briggs as a pro, he is still a very capable and rangy technical boxer who gets great confidence from Paul’s early rounds struggle with the awkwardly crafty and 6’5 inch Drews in August.
As part of his early preparation in April, Briggs spent a week sparring the improving Anthony Mundine who challenges Mikkel Kesler for the WBA super middleweight title on June 8, three days after Kosta Tszyu defends his jnr welterweight championships against Ricky Hattan.