Shannon Briggs is a veteran heavyweight who has spanned different eras and thinks there is only one man who comes close to the quality of Muhammad Ali.
Ali is known as ‘ The Greatest’ for his dominance in the ring, but also his work as an activist. He brought new levels of skill and sharp wit to the ring on his way to becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion.
Famous for fights like the Thrilla in Manila with Joe Frazier and The Rumble in the Jungle with George Foreman, while also beating the likes of Ken Norton, Ron Lyle and Floyd Patterson among many other of the sport’s most famous names.
Ali also stood tall for civil rights causes, including refusing the Vietnam draft despite what the consequences were for his career.
Speaking to First Round TV, former heavyweight champion Briggs was asked to name his Mount Rushmore of boxing and first mentioned Jack Johnson before moving on to Ali, saying the two heavyweights stand apart from the rest.
“Jack Johnson cause of the climate of the world he was living in. Unreal. You could tell me go fight, there’s a million white men outside, they all want to kill your ass and you got to fight for this title. I’m gunna be sh***ing bricks. You can’t see my legs but they shaking already. He don’t care about none of that. He got ice cold water in his veins … So, number one in the history of boxing, cause that nerve is something that’s unreal … [Ali] and Jack neck and neck, for me.”
Johnson was the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion. He held the title from 1908 to 1915 and was a trailblazer in and out of the ring who defied strict racial barriers. His ring success and defiance of segregation-era norms made him a powerful figure in not just boxing history, but American history entire.
