This was published 12 years ago
Fairer play: Aussie incensed by 'bum' jibe
Briggs' extraordinary rant lasted 10 minutes.
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Australia's heavyweight boxing hope Alex Leapai has been labelled a 'bum' amid farcical scenes in Germany.
Leapai, along with opponent Wladimir Klitschko, were involved in a classic boxing sideshow when former WBO world champion Shannan Briggs (pictured) gatecrashed their media conference in Dusseldorf.
Attribution: Not SuppliedLeapai, along with opponent Wladimir Klitschko, were involved in a classic boxing sideshow when former WBO world champion Shannan Briggs (pictured) gatecrashed their media conference in Dusseldorf.
It was clear from the outset that he wanted to make a point and decided that it might be made better if he was shirtless.
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The 42-year-old American certainly didn't hold back. He called Klitschko a pretender and a fabricated champion and angered Leapai with demeaning comments, describing him as a 'bum'.
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"Let's get it on right now. Matter of fact I don't want you, you're too small," Briggs yelled at the Aussie.
"I want nothing with you Leapai, you're just here for target practice for him," he added.
Attribution: Not Supplied"I want nothing with you Leapai, you're just here for target practice for him," he added.
While initially dismissing Briggs' entrance, Leapai reacted to the 'bum' gibe.
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He threatened to fight Briggs right there and then. He moved forward from his seat, but was restrained by Klitschko and his trainer. Briggs also had to be restrained.
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He has been in the ring with the biggest names of his generation and wanted everyone to know that he was still up for the fight.
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Perhaps his anger stemmed from three years ago when he fought Klitschko's brother Vitali and ended up in hospital.
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Either way, if nothing else, his antics were at least entertaining.
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