Shannon Briggs vows to return to the ring

American heavyweight boxer Shannon Briggs has pledged to return to the ring after surgery to repair a torn tendon in his left arm.

Briggs said that, apart from the arm injury, he felt fine despite absorbing heavy punishment in his loss to Vitali Klitschko in Hamburg on Saturday. He has been is hospital since the fight and is due to have surgery on his arm on tomorrow. "I'm fine, he said. "I am looking forward to coming back. I feel great."

The 38-year-old said he would consult with his management and his wife before setting a schedule for his comeback. Briggs walked into the room wearing dark sunglasses, but later took them off and said his face was fine despite earlier reports that he had broken bones around both eyes. A little swelling, especially around the left eye, could be seen.

He also undressed to his undershirt to show a heavily swollen bicep on his left arm. "It was one of the toughest fights of my life, it was a brutal fight," Briggs said. "It was a tough experience."

Briggs said quitting "wasn't an option" and had instructed his corner not to throw in the towel. "You can't quit in front of your wife," Briggs said.