Posted: Sun Apr 28 11:29:39 2002 EST

McCline outpoints Briggs; Tapia wins featherweight title

By David Gonzalez SportsTicker Staff Writer NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Jameel McCline continued to move up "big time" in the heavyweight division as he dominated Shannon Briggs over 10 rounds

Saturday night at the Theater at Madison Square Garden. In the co-feature, Johnny Tapia was given all he could handle but managed to unseat IBF featherweight champion Manuel Medina with a 12-round majority decision. A veteran of 16 title fights, Medina stormed out of the ring once the decision was announced. Tapia's title-winning effort was overshadowed by McCline, a rising force in the wide-open heavyweight division known as "Big Time." The 6-6 McCline (28-2-3) boxed brilliantly. He dropped Briggs midway through the sixth round with a right-left combination to the head. Briggs rose at four, but there was no denying it was McCline's time. "I was a little surprised," said McCline. "I didn't think it was a flush shot." McCline nearly pitched a shutout, dominating Briggs and capturing all three judges' scorecards by 99-90. An ex-convict, McCline began his career 2-2-1 but has exploded on the scene with meaningful victories in 2001 over Al Cole (W 12), Michael Grant (TKO 1), and Lance "Goofi" Whitaker. On

Saturday night, he keep his stock rising. "I want to fight the best in the world," said McCline, who has not lost since April
1996. Briggs, who was knocked out in the fifth round by champion Lennox Lewis in March 1998, fell to 36-3-1. "He was the better man tonight," said Briggs. "He outclassed me. He will make noise in the division. I have been there." Not to be outdone, Tapia (52-2-2) made the most of his New York debut. His quest for a third world title was highly spirited contest with neither fighter in trouble. "The fight was close, he is a very tough opponent," Tapia said. "Medina was the star of the fight." Tapia came out fast the opening two rounds, pressuring the champion. Medina was unfazed and continued to fight aggressively but was troubled by the speed of Tapia, who came up in weight and carried little power. Medina was by far the more active fighter. According to Compubox, Medina threw 1,466 punches -- a featherweight record -- but landed only 19 percent. He also set the record for jabs (1,005), landing just 13 percent. Medina (60-12) kept fighting strong throughout the second half of the bout, but it was Tapia winning the close rounds. Judge Melvin Lathan had the fight a draw at 114-114. Judges Tony Paolillo and George Colon scored the fight in Tapia's favor by identical 115-113 scores. "It was a very, very close fight," Tapia said. "I couldn't catch him like I wanted to because he was tall." Having also captured titles at 115 and 118 pounds, Tapia hopes to lure "Prince" Naseem Hamed to a big-money fight at featherweight later this year.