“You Didn’t Abuse Lennox Lewis”: Viddal Riley Slapping Shannon Briggs With Reality Check Over “Disrespectful” Remarks Before KSI vs. Logan Paul Rematch Resurfaces

A fiery exchange between trainers has resurfaced, reigniting old tensions. Viddal Riley and Shannon Briggs, cornermen for KSI and Logan Paul respectively, clashed. A war of words ensued. The backdrop? A history of controversies. Briggs, once celebrated, faced bans for drug use in 2009 when his win over Marcus McGee was declared a no-contest. His career was tarnished by testosterone scandals and suspensions again in 2017.

Back in 2019, Briggs trained Logan Paul. Riley, young and assertive, guided KSI, for their rematch. Their confrontation before the rematch was more than personal. It was a clash of legacies, ethics, and age. Riley’s taunt about drugs and no contests hit hard. Was this just pre-fight hype?

“You’re an old man!” Viddal Riley shuts down Briggs’ taunts

In the resurfaced clip in 2019, the tension between Viddal Riley and Shannon Briggs escalates quickly, with each trainer landing verbal jabs. Riley, with poise, targeted both Logan Paul and his trainer, Briggs. “And Logan, I wish you luck because you will need it,” he begins. The mood intensified as Riley turned his attention to Briggs, “And Shannon, once you’ve finished this event, you can go back to taking your drugs and having no contest.”

Briggs, visibly irked by the remarks, fires back with a mix of threat and disdain. “Disrespectful, are you not ready for this? If I break your jaw right now, you can’t do nothing about it,” he asserted. “You’re a little boy to me,” he continued, establishing his superiority not just in stature but in the boxing world. Yet, Riley retorted with a calm yet cutting response, “You’re an old man to me,” flipping the narrative to highlight the gap in their ages.

The exchange veered into a nationalistic argument as Briggs claimed, “That’s the difference between us Americans. We savage, we go hard. We gonna treat you like Americans treat you – abusive.” Riley, undeterred, brought in a historical perspective to counter Briggs’ bluster, “You didn’t abuse Lennox Lewis,” a reminder of Briggs’ past challenges and a subtle dig at his international record against the Brits. The Brit Lennox Lewis defeated Shannon Briggs by TKO in 1998.

Also Read: Hasim Rahman Jr. Blasts Viddal Riley Over “Biggest Waste of Potential In Boxing” Remarks

The interaction encapsulates not just a moment of personal conflict but a broader discourse on sportsmanship, legacy, and the psychological warfare that often precedes major sporting events. But it didn’t end there.

Shannon Briggs at the heart of weigh-in melee

The weigh-in for the KSI vs. Logan Paul rematch descended into chaos, marking a low point in the pre-fight events. The brawl, instigated by former world champ Shannon Briggs, saw him confront three members of KSI’s team: Viddal Riley, Amer Abdallah, and Badou Jack. The altercation began with a verbal exchange that quickly escalated when Briggs appeared to shove Abdallah in the throat.

Amidst attempts to exit the stage, tensions boiled over, leading to a melee. Security had to intervene, dragging Riley away and escorting Briggs through the streets of Los Angeles to restore calm. This ugly scene underscored the intense animosity brewing between the camps, setting a contentious tone for the impending bout.

Read more: Boxing News: Viddal Riley Signs Long-Term Contract With New Promotions

What are your thoughts on the significance of pre-fight conduct in shaping the outcome of a match?