Bennie Briscoe

[rob h]

How tough is this man?!

I have just come across his record after reading through Marvin Haglers. Briscoe is a name I had heard of but knew next to nothing about. With 53 stoppages from 66 wins and only losing by stoppage himself once in 24.... what a hard man as well taking on the likes of Hagler and Monzon..

What are people opinions of Briscoe? I am searching now for footage of him in action.

[ShadrachSimmo]

I was aware of him but it wasn't untill after he died that I found out more about him. When you look at the people he fought, Monzon, Griffith, Hagler, Mustafa Muhammad and the fact that he was into his 30's when he fought them just shows how good he was. Very unlucky that he never won a world title.

[giacomino]

check out youtube. There are a ton of his fights on there. He's generally considered one of the best fighters - at least in the past 50 years - to never win a title

[Expug]

Bad Bennie was one of those guys who if you planned on gettin in there with him,you'd better know what you were doing. In the gym or in a fight. Probably the toughest of the Philly middleweights of the seventies which makes him tougher than a coffin nale. I always had tons of respect for Hagler for going out of his way to actually seek out Bad Bennie and the rest of that crew by going to Philly and fightin them in their hometown. A fighter that can do that and not only come out in one piece,but beat them is ready for anything.

[Bricks]

Incredibly tough man and one of the best 12 Middleweights of the last 40 years

[fatcity69]

If he was around in todays pampered era and 'in' with a mayjor promoter then he would probably be one of the stars of today and a dominant champion at 160.....

[JMac]

I started boxing as an amateur back in '77 at Fraziers gym where Bennie trained. He was a trash man or as he would say, sanatation engineer. He did his job everyday and then came to the gym everynight. In the time I was there, I never saw him take a day off and at that time he was like in his 22nd-23rd year as a pro. It was a great time to be training at Fraziers. There were a lot of great trainers like George Benton. The place was loaded with talented fighters like Bennie, Wille Monroe, Bobby Watts, Leon and Michael Spinks who had moved to Phiily after turning pro, Marvis Frazier has just started as an amateur around the same time as me, 13 year old Meldrick Taylor, Dwight Braxton who changed his name to Muhamad Quai, Jimmy Young, James Shuler who made the 1980 Olympic team, Duane Bobick, Tex Cobb and even Joe himself was still working out from time to time. The list of boxers could go on. Bennie was a character and was always nice to me. I learned a lot in that gym just watching thoses guys and the sparring sessions were something else.

[fatcity69]

I started boxing as an amateur back in '77 at Fraziers gym where Bennie trained. He was a trash man or as he would say, sanatation engineer. He did his job everyday and then came to the gym everynight. In the time I was there, I never saw him take a day off and at that time he was like in his 22nd-23rd year as a pro. It was a great time to be training at Fraziers. There were a lot of great trainers like George Benton. The place was loaded with talented fighters like Bennie, Wille Monroe, Bobby Watts, Leon and Michael Spinks who had moved to Phiily after turning pro, Marvis Frazier has just started as an amateur around the same time as me, 13 year old Meldrick Taylor, Dwight Braxton who changed his name to Muhamad Quai, Jimmy Young, James Shuler who made the 1980 Olympic team, Duane Bobick, Tex Cobb and even Joe himself was still working out from time to time. The list of boxers could go on. Bennie was a character and was always nice to me. I learned a lot in that gym just watching thoses guys and the sparring sessions were something else.

I envy you your experience, you must have some great memories of what was a golden era in boxing.

[JMac]

I started boxing as an amateur back in '77 at Fraziers gym where Bennie trained. He was a trash man or as he would say, sanatation engineer. He did his job everyday and then came to the gym everynight. In the time I was there, I never saw him take a day off and at that time he was like in his 22nd-23rd year as a pro. It was a great time to be training at Fraziers. There were a lot of great trainers like George Benton. The place was loaded with talented fighters like Bennie, Wille Monroe, Bobby Watts, Leon and Michael Spinks who had moved to Phiily after turning pro, Marvis Frazier has just started as an amateur around the same time as me, 13 year old Meldrick Taylor, Dwight Braxton who changed his name to Muhamad Quai, Jimmy Young, James Shuler who made the 1980 Olympic team, Duane Bobick, Tex Cobb and even Joe himself was still working out from time to time. The list of boxers could go on. Bennie was a character and was always nice to me. I learned a lot in that gym just watching thoses guys and the sparring sessions were something else.

I envy you your experience, you must have some great memories of what was a golden era in boxing.

I do have great memories and I stayed in boxing as an amateur coach and official for the past 27 years. I wish I could go back in time to those days at Fraziers to watch and learn some more. At the time I knew the gym was loaded with talent, I just didn't realize at the time how really great so many of those boxers were and how much boxing would change. It was a special time and cool to have been there then.

[Bricks]

really enjoyed your insights Jmac

[Rover]

really enjoyed your insights Jmac

x2

[Recycle]

I started boxing as an amateur back in '77 at Fraziers gym where Bennie trained. He was a trash man or as he would say, sanatation engineer. He did his job everyday and then came to the gym everynight. In the time I was there, I never saw him take a day off and at that time he was like in his 22nd-23rd year as a pro. It was a great time to be training at Fraziers. There were a lot of great trainers like George Benton. The place was loaded with talented fighters like Bennie, Wille Monroe, Bobby Watts, Leon and Michael Spinks who had moved to Phiily after turning pro, Marvis Frazier has just started as an amateur around the same time as me, 13 year old Meldrick Taylor, Dwight Braxton who changed his name to Muhamad Quai, Jimmy Young, James Shuler who made the 1980 Olympic team, Duane Bobick, Tex Cobb and even Joe himself was still working out from time to time. The list of boxers could go on. Bennie was a character and was always nice to me. I learned a lot in that gym just watching thoses guys and the sparring sessions were something else.

Smells like troll to me

[JMac]

I started boxing as an amateur back in '77 at Fraziers gym where Bennie trained. He was a trash man or as he would say, sanatation engineer. He did his job everyday and then came to the gym everynight. In the time I was there, I never saw him take a day off and at that time he was like in his 22nd-23rd year as a pro. It was a great time to be training at Fraziers. There were a lot of great trainers like George Benton. The place was loaded with talented fighters like Bennie, Wille Monroe, Bobby Watts, Leon and Michael Spinks who had moved to Phiily after turning pro, Marvis Frazier has just started as an amateur around the same time as me, 13 year old Meldrick Taylor, Dwight Braxton who changed his name to Muhamad Quai, Jimmy Young, James Shuler who made the 1980 Olympic team, Duane Bobick, Tex Cobb and even Joe himself was still working out from time to time. The list of boxers could go on. Bennie was a character and was always nice to me. I learned a lot in that gym just watching thoses guys and the sparring sessions were something else.

Smells like troll to me

Troll? what the eff are you on about says the guy who just registered in March. Like I'm going to make this stuff up.

[Rover]

I started boxing as an amateur back in '77 at Fraziers gym where Bennie trained. He was a trash man or as he would say, sanatation engineer. He did his job everyday and then came to the gym everynight. In the time I was there, I never saw him take a day off and at that time he was like in his 22nd-23rd year as a pro. It was a great time to be training at Fraziers. There were a lot of great trainers like George Benton. The place was loaded with talented fighters like Bennie, Wille Monroe, Bobby Watts, Leon and Michael Spinks who had moved to Phiily after turning pro, Marvis Frazier has just started as an amateur around the same time as me, 13 year old Meldrick Taylor, Dwight Braxton who changed his name to Muhamad Quai, Jimmy Young, James Shuler who made the 1980 Olympic team, Duane Bobick, Tex Cobb and even Joe himself was still working out from time to time. The list of boxers could go on. Bennie was a character and was always nice to me. I learned a lot in that gym just watching thoses guys and the sparring sessions were something else.

Smells like troll to me

Troll? what the eff are you on about says the guy who just registered in March. Like I'm going to make this stuff up.

I really appreciate your insights.

Recycle never has anything valuable to add and makes absurd arguments and launches ad hominem attacks when he gets called out on them.

[BoxBuzz]

Recycle, I'm inclined to believe that He who smelt it delt it, in this case.

I want to suggest to recycle (and perhaps others) that some contributors here are spectators to the sport and some actually engage in this sport, they are flesh and blood and they drop by from time to time. (Regardless of how remarkably amazing you think such a prospect may be.) There are some of our threads that are visited almost exclusively by some rather high profile old hands (and gloves) in the business. So unless you've got some proof of your accusation, I want you to still your nervous fingers, and enjoy such posts without prejudice. You may even want to consider a welcoming posture. If you sincerely enjoy the sport.

Jmac has shared nothing to provoke your words other than suggest he's had some experience in the boxing business. Not such a stretch for a BOXING forum.

Let it go, I'm not going to be very patient with your brand of tension.

Do we get some frauds drop by from time to time? Yes....and in time such entertainers are usually exposed over the course of time. But they typically do the honors themselves, and don't need much help in the revelation dept.

[fatcity69]

I started boxing as an amateur back in '77 at Fraziers gym where Bennie trained. He was a trash man or as he would say, sanatation engineer. He did his job everyday and then came to the gym everynight. In the time I was there, I never saw him take a day off and at that time he was like in his 22nd-23rd year as a pro. It was a great time to be training at Fraziers. There were a lot of great trainers like George Benton. The place was loaded with talented fighters like Bennie, Wille Monroe, Bobby Watts, Leon and Michael Spinks who had moved to Phiily after turning pro, Marvis Frazier has just started as an amateur around the same time as me, 13 year old Meldrick Taylor, Dwight Braxton who changed his name to Muhamad Quai, Jimmy Young, James Shuler who made the 1980 Olympic team, Duane Bobick, Tex Cobb and even Joe himself was still working out from time to time. The list of boxers could go on. Bennie was a character and was always nice to me. I learned a lot in that gym just watching thoses guys and the sparring sessions were something else.

Smells like troll to me

The only troll here is you s~itbag. Take your insecurities and useless life elsewhere.

[Expug]

Great stuff about Fraziers gym jmac. Did all those tough Philly middles train at Fraziers? Worm Monroe,Cyclone Hart,Boogaloo Watts,Kitten Hayward etc? Eveyday had to have been war in the gym. Those were great times. I would guess that you could see better fights in the gym than on most other cards in other towns.

[Cutman Scabbers]

JMac, did you ever go to the Juniper Gym?

[JMac]

Great stuff about Fraziers gym jmac. Did all those tough Philly middles train at Fraziers? Worm Monroe,Cyclone Hart,Boogaloo Watts,Kitten Hayward etc? Eveyday had to have been war in the gym. Those were great times. I would guess that you could see better fights in the gym than on most other cards in other towns.

Cyclone Hart did not train there and I think Hayward was done boxing by the time I started. I never saw him there. When I first started, Jimmy Young had just started training for the Foreman fight so I got to watch him get ready for that fight. There was always good sparring. I was just a green amateur so my trainer did not spend much time with me so I just watched and learned from other trainers on how they trained their fighters and the sparring that went on. If I knew then that I would end up a coach myself, I think I might of spent even more time watching and learning. The sad thing that happened was around '79 and Joe got greedy and jacked up the monthly fees for the pro and amateur boxers plus the trainers had to pay a fee to train there and he jacked up their rates also. As a result, the gym that was a Mecca for pro fighters at the time changed. Many of the club fighter pros moved on to other gyms and so did a lot of the trainers. Several of them left to start new gyms like Georgie Benton who opened up a new gym at 18th and Styles. I had gone off to university and would stop by on breaks to work out but the gym was never the same.
In '77, Fraziers had some good light heavies then like Michael Spinks, Dwight Braxton (Muhammad Quai), Jerry "The Bull" Martin who was a top 10 Lt heavy.

[JMac]

JMac, did you ever go to the Juniper Gym?

No I am not familiar with that gym. Back then, there were a lot of gyms in Philly. Many have since closed as have boxing gyms all over the country. I've been in Maryland since '86 and more familiar with gyms in Baltimore and DC now.

[JMac]

I have a funny story that sort of has something to do with Bennie. I came to the gym one day and my trainer said "get ready" which meant I was sparring. So I asked with who and he says "Bennie Briscoe" and I said "Are you crazy"? At this point I hadn't had my first amateur fight yet. So my trainer says, "well, it's not Bennie but somebody just as good and if you don't want to spar, go home". It turns out to be Dwight Braxton who at this point had only been out of prison for a short while and had like 2 pro fights. He was going to spar 6 rounds that day with 3 people, 2 rounds each. I am the first one in the ring. My trainer gets in the ring, something he never did before and says to Braxton, "go easy, he don't have any fights". Braxton pushes him away and says, "get out of the way, i got a white boy here". He came at me like Joe Frazier and I just jabbed and ran, jabbed and ran for my life. He caught me in a corner in the 2nd round and hooked to my body, I dropped my elbow and he then hooked to my chin and dropped me. I looked at my trainer and was like WTF? I finished the round and when he was done the 6 rounds I asked him what he dropped me with. He told me and said "you did all right" which kind of made me feel OK. That was the only time I sparred someone who became a big time fighter. i usually sparred with other amateurs or club fighter pros who were not that good.

[Bricks]

Recycle you havent presented a shred of evidence to indicate trolling. In fact all your posts confirm it is you who is the trool

[ShadrachSimmo]

I started boxing as an amateur back in '77 at Fraziers gym where Bennie trained. He was a trash man or as he would say, sanatation engineer. He did his job everyday and then came to the gym everynight. In the time I was there, I never saw him take a day off and at that time he was like in his 22nd-23rd year as a pro. It was a great time to be training at Fraziers. There were a lot of great trainers like George Benton. The place was loaded with talented fighters like Bennie, Wille Monroe, Bobby Watts, Leon and Michael Spinks who had moved to Phiily after turning pro, Marvis Frazier has just started as an amateur around the same time as me, 13 year old Meldrick Taylor, Dwight Braxton who changed his name to Muhamad Quai, Jimmy Young, James Shuler who made the 1980 Olympic team, Duane Bobick, Tex Cobb and even Joe himself was still working out from time to time. The list of boxers could go on. Bennie was a character and was always nice to me. I learned a lot in that gym just watching thoses guys and the sparring sessions were something else.

Was Qawi really only 5foot 5 1/2? That's I'd unbelievably small for a light heavy/cruiser.

[JMac]

I started boxing as an amateur back in '77 at Fraziers gym where Bennie trained. He was a trash man or as he would say, sanatation engineer. He did his job everyday and then came to the gym everynight. In the time I was there, I never saw him take a day off and at that time he was like in his 22nd-23rd year as a pro. It was a great time to be training at Fraziers. There were a lot of great trainers like George Benton. The place was loaded with talented fighters like Bennie, Wille Monroe, Bobby Watts, Leon and Michael Spinks who had moved to Phiily after turning pro, Marvis Frazier has just started as an amateur around the same time as me, 13 year old Meldrick Taylor, Dwight Braxton who changed his name to Muhamad Quai, Jimmy Young, James Shuler who made the 1980 Olympic team, Duane Bobick, Tex Cobb and even Joe himself was still working out from time to time. The list of boxers could go on. Bennie was a character and was always nice to me. I learned a lot in that gym just watching thoses guys and the sparring sessions were something else.

Was Qawi really only 5foot 5 1/2? That's I'd unbelievably small for a light heavy/cruiser.

I couldn't tell you exactly how tall he was but I think he may have been a bit taller but he was just like a Joe Frazier who wasn't tall. He was strong and came in bobing and weaving throwing hooks.

[ShadrachSimmo]

I started boxing as an amateur back in '77 at Fraziers gym where Bennie trained. He was a trash man or as he would say, sanatation engineer. He did his job everyday and then came to the gym everynight. In the time I was there, I never saw him take a day off and at that time he was like in his 22nd-23rd year as a pro. It was a great time to be training at Fraziers. There were a lot of great trainers like George Benton. The place was loaded with talented fighters like Bennie, Wille Monroe, Bobby Watts, Leon and Michael Spinks who had moved to Phiily after turning pro, Marvis Frazier has just started as an amateur around the same time as me, 13 year old Meldrick Taylor, Dwight Braxton who changed his name to Muhamad Quai, Jimmy Young, James Shuler who made the 1980 Olympic team, Duane Bobick, Tex Cobb and even Joe himself was still working out from time to time. The list of boxers could go on. Bennie was a character and was always nice to me. I learned a lot in that gym just watching thoses guys and the sparring sessions were something else.

Was Qawi really only 5foot 5 1/2? That's I'd unbelievably small for a light heavy/cruiser.

I couldn't tell you exactly how tall he was but I think he may have been a bit taller but he was just like a Joe Frazier who wasn't tall. He was strong and came in bobing and weaving throwing hooks.

Found another source saying he was 5ft 7 1/2. Watched some of his fight vs Spinks. He looked so much smaller but like you say he does a lot of bobbing.