Betham next for Briggs?

Press, 19 August 1981, Page 30

Betham next for Briggs?

Eric Briggs, the Christ-church-domiciled professional boxer who has done all of his recent fighting in' Auckland, is already looking beyond this evening’s contest in that city’s town hall. The aggressive Briggs is to meet Siosi- (George) Tanoa over 10 rounds at the top of a five-bout programme. When Briggs and his trainer, Wally. Darrell, left for Auckland late last week to complete their preparations, Mr Darrell admitted that Tanoa would be an opponent of unknown quality. “We understand he is something of a knock-out specialist, but that is about all we know,” Mr Darrell said. However, Mr Darrell said

that Briggs had been training impressively and was confident of continuing.a successful comeback. They were already thinking of using the ■ bout as a stepping stone towards challenging for the New Zealand middleweight title. "I am not sure who is the official middleweight champion, but it is probably Monty Betham and I think we might be announcing a matching with Betham after Eric beats Tanoa,” Mr Darrell said. If Tanoa was a stranger to the Briggs camp a few days ago, then the pre-fight advertising makes impressive claims on his behalf. A Samoan who lives in Hawaii, Tanoa is said to have been

unbeaten in 57 amateur events and to have won 14 (nine by knock-out) of his 15 professinal appearances. "Tiger” (as he is billed) Briggs is also given a glittering build-up. He is compared with Jake La Motta, the Raging Bull of film, as well as fight, fame.

. Briggs, though, is an efficient competitor and among his more notable triumphs was a-points win over the Auckland light heavyweight, Lance Revill, in 1978. Should his rugged body punching also take its toll of Tanoa tonight, then he will have earned the opportunity of getting to grips with Betham.

John Coffey