Klitschko Dominates Briggs en Route to UD win
Vitali Klitschko cruised through a title defense against Shannon Briggs on Saturday, dominating him just about every second of the way until the final scorecards came through with a wide unanimous decision victory. Vitali was the more skilled, better prepared and more in shape fighter of the two contestants, and he was able to stifle Briggs’ attack before it ever got started. So while many fans were expecting more from Klitschko before this defense even took place, it’s now time to think about what’s next.
While Vitali dominated throughout, Briggs was able to make it through the entire performance. It marks only the third time in 41 wins that an opponent of Klitschko made it the distance and wasn’t stopped. The scorecards were incredibly lopsided though, coming in at 120-107 (Twice) and 120-105. Briggs falls to 51-6-1 and Klitschko improves to 41-2.
Next up for Vitali, it could be a fight in the beginning of 2011 against Tomasz Adamek. Adamek has been slowly but continually building his heavyweight credentials, and while he’s taken on some mammoth foes like Michael Grant, he also toppled challenger Chris Arreola. From light heavyweight to cruiserweight and until now, Adamek has proven he can go with the best of them.
He’ll also need to fight the winner of the Ray Austin vs. Odlanier Solis eliminator fight as his next mandatory. The likely winner is of course Odlanier Solis, so Solis and Adamek are looming as Vitali Klitschko’s two next opponents in the beginning of 2011. Which of those guys gets the shot first remains to be seen, and which of the two has what it takes to topple the Klitschko Mountain is unknown as well.
So what we have now is another big win for Vitali Klitschko, more continued dominance from the Klitschko clan, and more questions about the man that might be next, the man that might be able to actually win, or at least offer a stiff challenge, to either of the Klitschko brothers. Will it be Adamek? Will it be Solis?
