According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Former Heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs went to the hospital in Hamburg, Germany after his twelve round beatdown defeat at the hands of WBC Heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko.

Now, he is in Hamburg’s Eppendorf University Hospital with a broken left orbital bone in his face, a broken nose and a torn left biceps, Empire Sports and Entertainment promoter Greg Cohen told ESPN.com.

“He was banged up pretty bad,” Cohen said, shortly after arriving back in New York on Sunday. “The CT scan came back normal, thank God. Shannon wants to get out of there as soon as possible, but he’ll be there for a little bit longer. He’s devastated. He really thought he was going to win.”

“His biceps is a very serious injury and they have to do surgery, and he’ll probably be there for a week,” Cohen said. “It might require more than one surgery.”

I wouldn’t be here [in New York] if he wasn’t OK,” Cohen said. “He was in intensive care after the fight for precautionary reasons. The injuries are not life-threatening. He’s just banged up, but it’s not life-threatening or very serious. Other than the injuries I described, everything else is OK.

“He walked out of the arena on his own. They wanted to put him on as stretcher, but he wouldn’t let them. He’s going to be fine.”

“He trained for this. He was 100 percent ready mentally and physically, but I wish they would have stopped it around the eighth round,” Cohen said. “I love Shannon. He’s like family to me. As a human being, he is much more important to me than as an athlete. So it was tough to watch. But Shannon did not want them stopping this fight. I wish they didn’t listen to him, but I understand. I spoke to his corner after one of the rounds and Shannon was telling him, ‘I’m OK, I’m going to get him.’ Even after the 11th round, he thought he was still going to do it. His will was never broken. If I was in the corner, I would have stopped it. But I’m the promoter, not the cornerman.

“I don’t blame the referee at all. The referee did a good job. And I don’t blame the corner. I understand, but my preference would have been for it to be stopped.”

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that WBC Heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko will defend his belt against former WBO champion Shannon Briggs on October 16th in Hamburg, Germany.

“Contracts are signed, everything is done,” Said Bernd Boente, who manages Klitschko adding that there will be news conferences to make the formal announcement in Klitschko’s native Kiev, Ukraine, on Aug. 30 and another in Hamburg, his adopted hometown, on Aug. 31.

“I am very happy that I am finally fighting in Hamburg again. I started in Hamburg as a pro [in 1996],” said Klitschko, who hasn’t fought there since a 1999 knockout of Obed Sullivan. “The O2 World is a fantastic arena and the fans in Hamburg know their boxing, and a great atmosphere is guaranteed.”

“Shannon Briggs is an unbelievable trash-talker, but he is definitely a very strong challenger,” Klitschko said. “He has huge experience, has way more professional fights than I have and is one of the hardest punchers in the heavyweight division. I know I will have to prepare myself with my coach [Fritz Sdunek] very intensely.”

Said Boente: “It’s a very interesting matchup. Vitali has to be prepared very well because Briggs is very dangerous for the first six or seven rounds and you can’t underestimate the guy. Vitali knows this not a walkover. You know Briggs. He can show up as a really good fighter and perform on world-class level, or he can show up like he did in the [Sultan] Ibragimov fight and just walk around the ring.”

“I tried for a long time to get into the ring with one of the Klitschkos. Now it’s time to write history,” Briggs said. “Most of their opponents [expletive] in their pants before they enter the ring. But I will put a lot of pressure on Klitschko. Klitschko can look at his WBC belt for a couple of more weeks. After Oct. 16, it belongs to me.

“I have been in touch with [ESPN programmer] Doug Loughrey and hopefully we can work something again for Vitali’s fight,” Boente said.

Earlier today in Cardiff, Wales whilst attending the WBC “Night of Champions” Shannon Briggs 51-5-1 (45) confirmed to 15rounds.com that he had signed to fight Vitali Klitschko for Klitschko’s WBC title on 16 October in Hamburg, Germany.

Briggs 38, returned to the ring in late 2009 and has won three straight this year all by first round KO since his two and a half year lay off. He will be hoping to become a two time champion and seems highly motivated to achieve that goal.

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OFFICIAL WEIGHTS

WBC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (12) – MAIN EVENT – PPV

Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 KOs), WBC Champion, Los Angeles, California, USA by way of Ukraine 247 LBS.

vs.

Albert Sosnowski (45-2-1, 27 KOs), Challenger, Brentwood, Essex, United Kingdom way of Poland 224 LBS.

NABF HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (12) – CO-FEATURE – PPV

Johnathon Banks (34-1, 17 KOs), NABF Champion, Detroit, Michigan, USA 225 ½ LBS.

vs.

Jason Gavern (19-7-3, 8 KOs), Challenger, Kissimmee, Florida, USA 225 ½ LBS.

HEAVYWEIGHTS (6) – PPV

Nendad Borovcanin (25-0, 18 KOs), Benja Luka, Bosnia 219 LBS.

vs.

Raymond Ochieng (21-10-2, 17 KOs), Nairobi, Kenya 218 LBS.

FACT SHEET

WHAT: “Fists Of Steel” PPV

WHEN: Saturday, May 29, 2010 – 3:00 PM/ET 12:00 PM/PT

WHERE: Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

PROMOTER: K2 Promotions and Klitschko Management Group

PAY-PER-VIEW INFORMATION: Distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 3 PM/ET – 12 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Bell TV, Shaw PPV and Viewer’s Choice in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.

A 30-minute condensed viewing and U.S. televised debut of the March 20th IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight title fight between champion Wladimir Klitschko and challenger Eddie Chambers, as well as Johnathon Banks highlights from his NABF title-winning bout on the same card against Travis Walker, will also be shown as part of the “Fist Of Steel” PPV.

PAY-PER-VIEW ANNOUNCER: Dave Farrer, former BSKYB boxing commentator

RING ANNOUNCER: Michael Buffer

OFFICIALS (Klitschko-Sosnowski): Jay Nady, USA, referee. Ken Morita, Japan, judge;

Hubert Minn, USA, judge; Sergio Silvi, Italy, judge. WBC Supervisor, Bob Logist, Belgium.

WBC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

MAIN EVENT – 12 ROUNDS

Vitali “Dr. Ironfist” KLITSCHKO ALBERT “The Dragon” SOSNOWSKI

3-Time World Champion and reigning WBC Title Holder Challenger & Former European Heavyweight Champion

Los Angeles, California, USA by way of Ukraine Brentwood, Essex, UK by way of Poland

39-2 (37 KOs) 45-2-1 (27 KOs)

NABF HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

CO-FEATURE – 12 ROUNDS

JOHNATHON BANKS JASON “The Sensation” GAVERN

NABF Heavyweight Champion WBC CABOFE Champion

Detroit, Michigan, USA Kissimmee, Florida, USA

24-1 (17 KOs) 19-7-3 (8 KOs)

CRUISERWEIGHTS — 6 ROUNDS

NENDAD BOROVCANIN RAYMOND OCHIENG

Banja Luka, Bosnia Nairobi, Kenya

25-0 (18 KOs) 21-10-2 (17 KOs)

(all fights and fighters subject to change)

WHAT: “Fists Of Steel” PPV

WHEN: Saturday, May 29, 2010 – 3:00 PM/ET 12:00 PM/PT

WHERE: Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

PROMOTER: K2 Promotions and Klitschko Management Group

PAY-PER-VIEW INFORMATION: Distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 3 PM/ET – 12 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Bell TV, Shaw PPV and Viewer’s Choice in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.

A 30-minute condensed viewing and U.S. televised debut of the March 20th IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight title fight between champion Wladimir Klitschko and challenger Eddie Chambers, as well as Johnathon Banks highlights from his NABF title-winning bout on the same card against Travis Walker, will also be shown as part of the “Fist Of Steel” PPV.

PAY-PER-VIEW ANNOUNCER: Dave Farrer, former BSKYB boxing commentator

RING ANNOUNCER: Michael Buffer

OFFICIALS (Klitschko-Sosnowski): Jay Nady, USA, referee. Ken Morita, Japan, judge;

Hubert Minn, USA, judge; Sergio Silvi, Italy, judge. WBC Supervisor, Bob Logist, Belgium.

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HOBOKEN, N.J. (May 19, 2010) – NABF heavyweight champion Johnathon Banks makes his first title defense May 29 on the “Fists Of Steel” pay-per-view event, featuring WBC heavyweight title holder Vitali “Dr. Ironfist” Klitschko against challenger Albert “The Dragon” Sosnowski, live from the 61,000-seat Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

Detroit punisher Banks (24-1, 17 KOs), ranked # 7 in the world by the WBC and #9 by the IBF, takes on veteran Jason “The Sensation” Gavern, rated in the top 15 of the WBC, in the 12-round co-feature.

“Fists Of Steel,” presented by K2 Promotions and Klitschko Management Group, is being distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 3 PM/ET – 12 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Bell TV, Shaw PPV and Viewer’s Choice in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.

A 3-time U.S. national amateur champion, Banks captured the NABF crown last March in what was voted NABF Fight of the Year, stopping Travis Walker (34-3-1) with a dramatic KO in the sixth round of their title fight in Germany. The former NABO and IBO cruiserweight champion, Banks has been the chief sparring partner for the Klitschko brothers for the last three years. He has now emerged in his own right as one of the top heavyweights in the world.

“We’re excited by the progress Johnathon has made in the heavyweight division,” said Tom Loeffer, managing director of K2 Promotions. “He was struggling to make weight as a cruiserweight when he lost to Adamek, but now he is much stronger as a heavyweight. By winning the NABF title the way he did, Johnathon has established himself as one of the top heavyweights in the world today.”

Gavern also won a title in his lasts fight, when he captured the WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation title with a win over Manuel Quezada. In what turned out to be the biggest win of his career, Gavern beat Quesada (29-4), rated #7 at the time by the WBC, by a 10-round decision to capture the title. The battle-tested Floridian has also defeated Cisse Salif, Jermell Barnes and Raphael Butler during his 7-year career.

In the 12-round main event, Sosnowski will attempt to upset Klitschko to become the first Polish heavyweight champion of the world against 3-time heavyweight champion Klitschko (39-2, 37 KOs), who returned to the ring after a 4-year retirement to regained his WBC championship belt by stopping Samuel Peter in 2008. He has since defended his title three times by stopping Juan Carlos Gomez and Chris Arreola, and winning every round against Kevin Johnson last December.

Sosnowski (45-2-1, 27 KOs), now fighting out of the United Kingdom, became the European champion by capturing the European Boxing Union heavyweight title in his last fight. He won a 12-round decision last December against Italian Olympian, Paolo Vidoz.

CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS FIGHT CARD

HOBOKEN, N.J. (May 12, 2010) – WBC title challenger Albert “The Dragon” Sosnowski plans to become the first Polish Heavyweight Champion of the World when he fights defending champion Vitali “Dr. Ironfist” Klitschko on May 29, headlining the “Fists Of Steel” pay-per-view event, live from the 61,000-seat Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

“I will shock the world” Sosnowski predicted. “Everything happens for a reason and this is my time. Klitschko has ruled the heavyweight world long enough. I will win this fight for all of my Polish fans across the world.”

“Fists Of Steel,” presented by K2 Promotions and Klitschko Management Group, is being distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 3 PM/ET – 12 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Bell TV, Shaw PPV and Viewer’s Choice in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.

Sosnowski (45-2-1, 27 KOs), now fighting out of the United Kingdom, became the European champion by capturing the European Boxing Union heavyweight title in his last fight. He won a 12-round decision last December against Italian Olympian, Paolo Vidoz.

“Fighting Klitschko for the WBC world title is a dream-come-true for me,” Sosnowski remarked. “It looked like an impossible dream when I first started boxing, but now it will happen on May 29th. Winning the world title will be more than a dream and then I will be on top of the world.

“It’s very important and a great honor for me to be fighting on pay per view in the United States. Fans in the U.S. know about great Polish boxers – first Andrew Golota and now Tomasz Adamek. They have great names and unbelievable followings, packing arenas across the U.S., and I know that they will be supporting me 100-percent.”

After a 4 year retirement, 3-time heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 KOs) returned to the ring and regained his WBC championship belt by stopping Samuel Peter in 2008. He has since defended his title three times by stopping Juan Carlos Gomez and Chris Arreola, and winning every round against Kevin Johnson last December.

“Both of Klitschko’s hands are lethal and he has an awkward style,” said Sosnowki, who came into boxing from kick-boxing. “He is powerful and tough. It’s difficult to find a sparring partner who can simulate him because nobody fights his way. From a technical standpoint, Klitschko makes tons of errors, but he’s very tough and intelligent in the ring. He never lets you fight your fight but I will find a way to capitalize on the mistakes he makes in the ring.

“I have nothing to lose and I know people aren’t giving me much of a chance. That’s okay, though, they don’t know what I can do or hard I’m training. I will aggressive and take risks against him because too many fighters have gone in the ring against Klitschko just to earn a pay-check. I will move sideways, trying to explore his defensive errors, and see what happens when he gets hit. Aggression, movement and speed are the keys for me to win. I will not just stand there and let him beat me like others did. It’s all or nothing for me.”

For more information about the Klitschko-Sosnowski PPV event go to www.integratedsportsnet.com.

Integrated Sports Media: North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit sports events has presented World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Erik Morales, Ricky Hatton, Cristian Mijares, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Ivan Calderon, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Khan, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, David Haye, John Ruiz, Wilfredo Vasquez, Jr. and Ruslan Chagaev. In addition, Integrated Sports Media distributed numerous International soccer matches showcasing teams like Club America of Mexico and the National Teams of Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and the USA, as well as World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson, and Roy Nelson. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com.