 Briggs (right) had been due to meet Ibragimov on 10 March |
WBO heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs's first title defence against Sultan Ibragimov has been cancelled because the American has pneumonia. Briggs, who won the title by stopping Sergei Liakhovich in November, has had asthma throughout his career and will be sidelined for at least three months.
The 35-year-old's bout was due to take place at Madison Square Gardens.
If he won, a unification bout against one of the other heavyweight title holders was expected to follow.
Vladimir Klitschko of Ukraine is the IBF champion, the WBC's champion is Oleg Maskaev, while Nikolai Valuev of Russia holds the WBA belt.
Asked about a unification bout Briggs said: "Everybody talks about it. I'm behind that 100%.
"Klitschko isn't that great. I think he's overrated. He's got a china chin, a glass jaw. He's fighting small guys. When he fights guys that can punch, we'll see.
"Valuev right now is the most dangerous. He's a 300lb man. I think he's the biggest challenge."
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