Briggs-Oquendo title fight to be canceled

According to a report by ESPN, the scheduled June 3 WBA title fight between Shannon Briggs and Fres Oquendo will be canceled due to Briggs’ failed VADA drug test. Briggs and Oquendo were due to fight for the WBA’s “regular” title, but the fight was likely to be postponed anyway because Briggs’ promoter was unable to secure a television deal for the bout. Now it simply won’t happen at all.

The issues stems from a May 14th urine sample collected from Briggs and analyzed at the UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory in Los Angeles, a sample that was flagged for elevated levels of testosterone. Specific to the “atypical” findings, Briggs’ testosterone to epitestosterone ratio was 7.89 to 1 — almost twice that of the 4 to 1 maximum threshold set by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Briggs maintains the right to have his B sample tested to ensure the test results, but those almost never come back any different than the A sample, making things appear pretty grim for the 45-year-old former champion.

ESPN also reports that as soon as the Briggs-Oquendo fight began in negotiations, the Oquendo side pushed for VADA drug testing. A source with knowledge on the testing says that Briggs’ camp initially balked at the testing, but ultimately acquiesced. Now, it appears, we know why Briggs’ camp might’ve been hesitant.

In the meanwhile, Oquendo, 44, is still owed a WBA title shot based on a federal lawsuit that he won against the sanctioning body. There’s no word at this time on how that will be fulfilled going forward, but Briggs will likely face a fine and suspension which could prove to unceremoniously end his career.