Shannon Briggs to fight David Tua

It had to happen sooner or later, and fortunately for fight fans it’s happening sooner. Perennial contender Shannon Briggs (45-4-1, 39 KOs), hot on the comeback trail, finally ups the ante and fights a live body when he meets David Tua (44-3-1, 38 KOs) on Saturday, April 1, at the Mohegan Sun Hotel Casino in Uncasville, Conn.

CKrush Entertainment and Cedric Kushner will present the heavyweight blockbuster as part of a free preview weekend on SHOWTIME.

Briggs and Tua are quintessential heavyweight underachievers. Neither pug, despite his gifts – Briggs' speed and power, Tuaman’s hook and durability – ever lived up to his full potential, but the heavyweight division is in such a sickly state these days, Briggs is currently rated #8 by the WBC, #13 by the IBF, and #10 by WBO.

Tuaman has been fighting sporadically over the years and has yet to show the form that landed him a shot at Lennox Lewis many moons ago. But should the big Samoan get by the Brooklyn-born Briggs, Tua might just make another run at the crown. If Shannon clobbers Tua, as is expected, he gets a shot at one of the titles within the year.