The highly anticipated boxing showdown between Rampage Jackson and Shannon Briggs, initially set for June 8 in Qatar, has been called off. The bout, which was to headline the Rumble of Titans: Duel In the Desert event, was scrapped due to serious fraud concerns involving the event’s promoter, Quantum Sports & Media (QSM) World, as reported by MMAMania.

The lead-up to the match faced significant setbacks, including a press conference scheduled for March 28, 2024, that failed to occur. Hossama Khan, the promoter behind the event, cited Ramadan restrictions on musical performances as the reason for the delay, a response that has been met with skepticism.

The cancellation comes after a prolonged media battle between the two fighters, who have not shied away from exchanging verbal jabs. Rampage Jackson, expressing his frustration over the long-awaited fight, shared his readiness on social media to finally silence Briggs. “I finally got the contract. It’s been over two years in the making of me hearing Mr. Shannon Briggs’ mouth,” Jackson stated. He looked forward to the opportunity to “shut [Briggs] up once and for all” in Qatar.

As it stands, it remains unclear whether Jackson and Briggs will seek to arrange their match with another promoter or if this cancellation marks the end of their potential face-off in the ring. The boxing community and fans are left waiting to see if and how the confrontation will be rescheduled, leaving much speculation about the future encounters between these two fierce competitors.