{"id":5094,"date":"2010-10-15T10:15:06","date_gmt":"2010-10-15T14:15:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=5094"},"modified":"2010-10-16T11:44:25","modified_gmt":"2010-10-16T15:44:25","slug":"team-rsr-fight-picks-jesse-brinkley-vs-lucian-bute-shannon-briggs-vs-vitali-klitschko","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=5094","title":{"rendered":"Team RSR Fight Picks: Jesse Brinkley vs. Lucian Bute & Shannon Briggs vs. Vitali Klitschko"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Compiled by Mike \u201cRubber Warrior\u201d Plunkett<\/strong><\/p>\n

This weekend promises to go a long way towards making amends for the dry spell we\u2019ve endured over the last few months. On Friday Lucian Bute, arguably the best super middleweight on the planet, will be making the sixth defense of his IBF title against Jesse Brinkley, 35-5, 22 KO\u2019s, formerly of the reality boxing television series The Contender. Standing a full four inches shorter than Bute, 26-0, 21 KO\u2019s, the Yerington, Nevada native hopes to do something that no other fighter spawned from that series has done to date; win a world title from a great fighter clearly in his prime. Over the last week Brinkley has been extremely vocal about his planned strategy, being quick to remind any and all that he should not be so easily counted out, despite the considerable odds against him. Adding context to the monumental task before the challenger, \u201cLe Tombeur\u201d has scored one-punch knockouts in his last two fights. Expect the sparks to fly in Montreal.<\/p>\n

On Saturday we have one of those rare fun fights that doesn\u2019t necessarily make a whole lot of sense. Unable to secure a bout with Nikolay Valuev, WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, 40-2, 38KO\u2019s looks to defend his title for the fifth time against Shannon Briggs, 51-5-1, 45KO\u2019s, the former WBO and Linear heavyweight champion. Logic suggests that Klitschko has the lion\u2019s share of positive elements in his favor; unusual grit, activity, awkward defense and pedigree. To his credit, Briggs is an explosive puncher, known for his all-out attack at the first bell; each of his last three opponents fell in the 1st round. But there are intriguing variables here that suggests potential drama; Klitschko has been looking his age as of late, has reportedly been ponderous in sparring and has a penchant for carrying his hands low. Briggs, while at his lowest weight in years and obviously intent on bringing the fight to the champion, is known for petering out beyond the midway point in bouts. Can the aging \u201cDr. Ironfist\u201d weather the early onslaught of \u201cThe Cannon\u201d? Can the challenger put up a decent fight should the bout go into the later rounds? Let the fun begin.<\/p>\n

Ringside Report\u2019s team of writers offer their expert opinions on the outcome:<\/p>\n

Jesse Brinkley vs. Lucian Bute<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eric Fleming<\/strong><\/p>\n

I pick Brinkley.<\/p>\n

Gina L. Caliboso<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bute is the best super middleweight out there. Prediction: Bute wins by 8th round KO.<\/p>\n

Geno McGahee<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brinkley is all heart and will give an honest and gutsy effort, but Lucian Bute is a special fighter and hits far too hard and is far too accurate. Bute by KO in 3.<\/p>\n

Stuart Gracey<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lucian Bute win via KO.<\/p>\n

Brian Wilbur<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brinkley is a decent club fighter with power but he is going to get demolished by (arguably) the best super middleweight in the world, Lucian Bute. This is a mismatch.<\/p>\n

Mike \u201cRubber Warrior\u201d Plunkett<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m with Wilbur.<\/p>\n

Joe Wilson<\/strong><\/p>\n

Because of skills along with size and height, Bute wins this fight. Brinkley will bring pressure and Bute will make him pay. Bute in 6 rounds by TKO.<\/p>\n

\u201cBad\u201d Brad Berkwitt<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bute by 4th round TKO<\/p>\n

Delroy Hill<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bute to win.<\/p>\n

Final Tally
\nLucian Bute \u2013 8
\nJesse Brinkley – 1<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shannon Briggs vs. Vitali Klitschko<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eric Fleming<\/strong><\/p>\n

I pick Klitschko.<\/p>\n

Gina L. Caliboso<\/strong><\/p>\n

Prediction: As usual, Klitschko by TKO in the 9th round.
\nGeno McGahee<\/strong>
\nExpect a scare or two, but look for Vitali to pummel Briggs over the course of 8 rounds before the Briggs corner stops it and don’t allow their fighter to take any more punishment. Vitali TKO-8.
\nStuart Gracey<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vitali Klitschko win via KO.
\nBrian Wilbur<\/strong><\/p>\n

I can’t believe that Shannon Briggs is still fighting, let alone getting title shots. Vitali Klitschko wins with a mid round TKO.
\nMike \u201cRubber Warrior\u201d Plunkett<\/strong><\/p>\n

Logic dictates that Lurch should be able to weather the storm, albeit awkwardly, and outlast Briggs to take a late-round stoppage, sometime around the 8th round, but there are elements at play that suggest that the underdog has a very strong early-round chance to upset everything. Is Vitali slowing down as much as some say? Will his penchant for holding his hands low cost him before he is able to get into a groove? What happens when and if Briggs is able to land repeatedly? I\u2019m sticking with Klitschko for a stoppage sometime between round 6 and 8, but I would not be surprised if \u201cThe Cannon\u201d managed to do something unthinkable.<\/p>\n

Joe Wilson<\/strong><\/p>\n

This could be a toss up fight. According to my prediction, this fight can go either way. If Vitali doesn’t gain respect early in this fight from Shannon, this could become a dangerous for him. Briggs is a true heavyweight in size and power. Age can become a huge factor going into the middle rounds. This fight has the smell of an upset written all over it! It’s these kind of fights that Briggs shows up big. I will go out on a limb and say Briggs pulls off and upset victory over Klitschko by TKO in rd 9.<\/p>\n

\u201cBad\u201d Brad Berkwitt<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vitali by 8th round TKO<\/p>\n

Delroy Hill<\/strong><\/p>\n

Klitschko to win<\/p>\n

Final Tally
\nBriggs \u2013 0
\nKlitschko – 9<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

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Purchase Boxing Interviews Of A Lifetime<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Compiled by Mike \u201cRubber Warrior\u201d Plunkett This weekend promises to go a long way towards making amends for the dry spell we\u2019ve endured over the last few months. On Friday Lucian Bute, arguably the best super middleweight on the planet, will be making the sixth defense of his IBF title against Jesse Brinkley, 35-5, 22 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[380,465,651,749],"class_list":["post-5094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-boxing-news","tag-jesse-brinkley","tag-lucian-bute","tag-shannon-briggs","tag-vitali-klitschko"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5094","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5094"}],"version-history":[{"count":-2,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5094\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}