All the major world heavyweight titles belong to fighters from former Soviet bloc countries.

Shannon Briggs thinks that's wrong. And the Brooklyn-born-and-bred Briggs plans to change it by defeating WBO champion Sergei Liakhovich, a native of Belarus, on Saturday night at Chase Field. It's the first heavyweight title fight ever staged in Arizona.

"There shouldn't be a heavyweight champion in Russia," Briggs said at a news conference Wednesday at a local Mexican restaurant. "I'm going to bring the title back to New York, because the heavyweight title ought to be in America."

Actually, one of the titles resides in nearby Scottsdale, where Liakhovich has lived since 1999. Liakhovich isn't an American citizen but hopes to become one someday.

"Never mind America, this title is staying right here in Phoenix," said Liakhovich's manager, Ivaylo Gotzev. "This is a chance for Phoenix to see that they have a true champion who lives here."

Aside from the debate over geography, Wednesday's news conference offered plenty of hype and a threat of violence. A brief scuffle broke out as Liakhovich (23-1, 14 KOs) and Briggs (47-4-1, 41 KOs) posed with promoter Don King in front of a mariachi band. The fighters were separated before either could throw a punch.

"I feel like this guy is a very disrespectful guy," Briggs told the audience. "I heard he said some racial comments about me."

In an interview later, Briggs said "someone told me" that Liakhovich had used a racial slur, which Gotzev denied.

"If anybody knows Sergei, they know he's not a racist," Gotzev said. "(Briggs) is trying to pump himself up. He's distressed and he's worried about Sergei. There's absolutely no way anybody can prove that Sergei made a racist remark."

Briggs, who turns 35 Dec. 4, acknowledged that "I'm going to do anything I can to get my blood boiling." Ranked No. 3 in the WBO, Briggs has won 11 straight fights, most of them against anonymous opponents. In his lone title fight, Briggs lost to Lennox Lewis by TKO in 1998.

"I wish the fight was (Thursday) or Friday," said Briggs' trainer, Chuck McGregor. "He's almost over-ready."

This is the first title defense for the 30-year-old Liakhovich, who took the belt from Lamon Brewster in a bout that went the distance April 1 in Cleveland.

The soft-spoken Liakhovich wasn't interested in trading trash talk with the outspoken Briggs.

"I am just telling you this: on Nov. 4, I will hunt you down," Liakhovich said to Briggs.