Philadelphia Legend “Bad” Bennie Briscoe Passes Away

Popular 70’s middleweight contender “Bad” Bennie Briscoe passed away yesterday (December 28) at the age of 67.

Briscoe fought for 20 years (1962-1982), taking on the best fighters on his era. He battled Carlos Monzon twice, holding the middleweight great to a draw in their first encounter in 1967. In the championship rematch in 1972, Briscoe badly staggered Monzon with overhand right in round nine. The ropes held Monzon stay up, and the champion was able to continue outboxing a relentless Briscoe down the stretch to win a competitive decision. He would lose his second title shot, the WBC strap vacated by Monzon, by seventh round KO to Rodrigo Valdez in 1974. His last title shot came in 1977, when he lost to Valdez again via a unanimous decision.

A determined, come forward fighter who possessed a strong body attack, Briscoe was a formidable contender that middleweights who aspired to be elite had to prove themselves against. Very powerful, nearly all of Briscoe’s opponents, including a young Marvin Hagler, preferred to box him rather than engage him on the inside. Briscoe’s resume features a who’s who of world class fighters, including Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Vito Antuofermo, Emile Griffith (2X), Marvin Hagler, Carlos Monzon (2X), Rodrigo Valdez (3X) Georgie Benton, and Eugene Hart.

Briscoe retired in 1982 with a record of 66-24-5, with 53 KOs and only one knockout loss. In 2003, RING Magazine included him on their 100 Greatest Punchers of All Time list. Philadelphia’s annual boxing awards ceremony is also named in his honor.

For the past week, Briscoe had been under hospice care at Temple University. At press time, a cause of death and funeral arrangements have not been announced.

BAD BENNIE BRISCOE HIGHLIGHTS

BRISCOE VS. MONZON II (ROUNDS 9-11)

BRISCOE VS. HAGLER HIGHLIGHTS

REST IN PEACE, BENNIE!