Paul Briggs also disables opponent’s wills in a similar fashion, and Stripe Drews was about to learn why. August 2004, Homebush Bay, NSW and across the corner from Briggs and Mosley now was Stripe Dews. Drews was a southpaw, and as matters can be when orthodox fighters fight southpaws, things got messy, but not just because Drews was a tall and lead with the right hand. During the Briggs fight Drews tried everything that was and wasn’t compatible with a fighter’s agreed conduct according to the WBC guidelines.
At times Drews resorted to using his forehead to strike Brigg’s head, and at other points within the world title eliminator contest Drews clearly kneed Briggs.
Briggs could have made it easier on himself by adopting a strategy that placed less emphasis on ruthless warfare, one that also limited Drew’s options, particularly those that successfully tempted him to stray outside of the traditional boxing convention’s guidelines. But thankfully Briggs chose not to. It must have been clear to Briggs that Drews was concerned and that his will had already weakened. What other reasoning could there be for Drews to employ the tactics that he had so enthusiastically and infamously brought into play? Briggs to his credit, resisted to do the same, instead he opted to grind it out but by the rules, as they provided all the freedom required to implement the winning strategy.
Through the delivery of an awesome mix of counter punching and power hitting whilst deep within the trenches, Briggs intent on getting his way imposed his will to win and in doing so he publicly demonstrated that his own breaking point arrived later than Drews. What also became apparent as the bout unfolded was that Briggs also set himself to control when Drew’s final breaking point came into existence. And it appeared Briggs was up to the task, as he deliberately made the fight unnecessarily tougher for himself on the count that meant it was significantly more difficult for Drews to survive.
If you were a HBO executive broadcasting that fight, Briggs pulled out precisely the game plan you would have hoped for your PPV audience, as the end result of Briggs decision to remain close at war was increased action and pure excitement.
The option to box was always available for Briggs, and there's no doubt Briggs can play that game masterfully, however on this instance after Drews had revealed his “alternative plans”, Briggs relished the chance to stay local in the trenches, drop bombs, chop and bang hard at the German champion until the cracks appeared and until he was deprived of the freedom to follow preparation.
The plan to stay at war worked beautifully not just for Briggs. It was extremely well received by the spectators who were brought up to their feet as Briggs systematically terrorized Stripe Drews and publicly punished him for his sporting misdemeanours. As Briggs stepped up into high gear and pulled the trigger on serious firepower critical changes in Drews took place. Instructions weren’t properly pursued and problems were introduced for which there was little time and energy to resolve.
The crisis wasn’t about to subside; Drew’s went down and abruptly tasted the canvass in the sixth round, courtesy of Briggs’ orthodox left hook. From that point Drew became more frustrated and Briggs continued to push forward, counter punch and power hit - aggressively looking for the breaking point in Stripe Drews.
Confidence transformed itself into doubt within Drews and it became obvious that he grew marginally embarrassed that his alternative plans to headbutt and kick had only served to motivate Briggs further. And now as a result Briggs had partially disabled Drew’s will for his prohibited efforts.
En route to the 12th round Drews revisited the floor again courtesy of Briggs firepower. Twice. Now there was no answer to the pressure Brigg’s strategy freely donated to the cause, and in what was surely one of the dirtiest fights witnessed in Australia recently, Briggs prevailed and presented Stripe Drews with the first defeat that his professional career had witnessed. Briggs shut out
and defeated Stripe Drews via a wide margined unanimous decision, and with this consummate performance Paul Briggs delivered an awakening call to the homeland Australian boxing fraternity and also that afar - such was the skill, strength, commitment and depth of morale fibre on display. There was no home cooking with this fights outcome
Briggs had only worked with Mosley for approximately 5 months prior to the Drews fight and now that Briggs had eclipsed Drews he had earned the right to fight Tomasz Adamek for the vacant WBC light heavyweight world title. The title had been vacated by Antonio Tarver.
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