By Edward Chaykovsky

Former WBO heavyweight Shannon Briggs is confident that his constant stalking of Wladimir Klitschko played a role in last year's unexpected twelve round decision win by Tyson Fury.

Briggs was hunting for a fight with Klitschko like a man possessed. He traveled to multiple countries to confront Klitschko at media events. Briggs crashed training camps, and he even went after Klitschko at a restaurant in Florida.

Fury was the mandatory challenger to Klitschko's title and they collided last November in Germany. Klitschko barely threw any punches in the contest and ultimately lost for the first time in a decade.

Fury and Klitschko are scheduled to have a rematch in the coming months. Unless Klitschko is willing to take risks this time, then Briggs predicts a repeat performance by Fury.

"Those two years when I pursued him and haunted him, chased him, it definitely took a toll on him," said Briggs to Sky Sports. "He was distracted in some way. I feel Tyson Fury should call me and say 'thank you champ, I appreciate you champ.'

"If Wladimir isn't willing to put it on the line, it will be the same fight. He has got to be able to put it on the line. This is a guy who is close to seven foot tall and he's going to have to get inside and work him.

"I believe the size was the issue for him. I also believe he wasn't 100 percent focused. He was living off his hype and was the champion for so many years. It was great timing and I knew that, because [Klitschko] had just had a kid. I knew it was perfect timing."