5 best heavyweight boxers from Brooklyn, New York

Five best heavyweight boxers from Brooklyn.

Brooklyn has a long, rich history of supporting the sweet science. Legendary heavyweight boxers such as John L. Sullivan, James J. Jeffries, and others have graced boxing fans with their presence and exceptional fighting skills. Many famous pugilists were born and raised in New York City’s most populated borough over the centuries. In the heavyweight division, Brooklyn fighters have displayed toughness, intelligence, and power in the ring. Many fight fans have witnessed each of these athletes’ most remarkable moments.

Here are the five best heavyweight boxers from Brooklyn

5. Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs

Record: 60-6-1-1

Shannon Briggs is a burly fighter with a mighty right hand. Before becoming “The Cannon,” Briggs was an excellent amateur boxer. He earned the silver medal at the 1991 Pan American Games, and Briggs won first place in the United States National Championships in 1992.

As a professional, Briggs won 30 times in his first 31 fights. He would go on to lose to Lennox Lewis for the WBC belt on March 28, 1998. Despite the setback, Briggs would win the IBU title in 2003 and the WBO heavyweight belt with a TKO victory over Siarhei Liakhovich on Nov. 4, 2006.

Briggs would lose the title in his next fight against Sultan Ibragimov in June 2007. Later in his career, Briggs would win the WBC Latino Interim title and the WBA-NABA belt before retiring in 2016.

Briggs would become an actor after he left boxing. He starred in several movies such as Bad Boys 2, The Transporter, Three Days To Vegas, and The Wackness.

4. Michael “Double M” Moorer

Record: 52-4-1

Moorer was born in Brooklyn, but this talented boxer developed his exceptional skills in Detroit, Michigan, under the guidance of legendary trainer Emanuel Steward. After starting his career as a light heavyweight earning the WBO title in his 22nd bout. Moorer eventually moved up to the heavyweight division, winning the vacant WBO title after defeating Bert Cooper by a round five knockout.

Moorer narrowly defeated Evander Holyfield by majority decision to win the WBA & IBF titles. “Double M” would become the first left-handed heavyweight champion in boxing history. In the first defense of his titles, Moorer would lose to 45-year-old George Foreman by a shocking round 10 knockout on Nov. 5, 1994.

Moorer would continue to fight, winning the vacant IBF belt by split decision versus Axel Schulz in 1996. Moorer would retain the belt for two fights before losing it to Holyfield on November 8, 1997. The Brooklyn native would win the WBA-NABA & WBC Continental belts before ending his career after his final bout on Feb. 8, 2008.

3. Riddick “Big Daddy” Bowe

Record: 43-1-1

Bowe is a large, towering man from the East New York section of Brooklyn. His 81 inch reach released his powerful left jab. Bowe’s strong right hand would destroy his battered opponents. Bowe had a stellar amateur career winning four New York City Golden Gloves titles and a gold medal at the Junior World Championships in 1985.

Bowe would earn a silver medal in the 1988 Olympics after losing to Lennox Lewis in the Gold medal bout.

Once turning pro, Bowe went 27-0, earning the vacant WBC Continental Americas belt by defeating Elijah Tillery. On Nov.13, 1992, the Brooklyn native would defeat Evander Holyfield by unanimous decision to win WBC, IBF, and WBA titles.

The rivalry with Holyfield would continue as Bowe would lose the WBA & IBF belts to his rival by majority decision on November 6, 1993. Bowe would win the WBC Continental Americas belt in 1994 and the WBO title in 1995 after defeating Herbie Hide.

“Big Daddy” would have two memorable fights with Andrew Golota. The first bout resulted in a massive riot at Madison Square Garden on July 11, 1996. Bowe would win both contests by disqualification against Golota due to repeated low blows.

The former champ tried a comeback after an eight-year hiatus from 1996-2004. Bowe would go undefeated in his last three bouts before quietly retiring from the ring in 2008.

2. Floyd “The Gentleman of Boxing” Patterson

Record: 55-8-1

Now, Floyd Patterson was born in Waco, North Carolina. Yet, he spent his formative years in Brooklyn. Patterson used boxing as an alternative to committing crimes as a kid. Patterson took up the sport at the Bedford Stuyvesant Boxing Association Gym. Under the tutelage of Cus D’Amato, The six-foot-tall Patterson would go on to win the 1952 New York Golden Gloves & National Amateur Middleweight Championship.

Patterson would use his 71-inch reach and peek-a-book style to better his opponents with vicious hooks and power shots. Patterson won the gold medal, as a middleweight, at the 1952 Olympics. “The Gentleman of Boxing” would win 30 of his first 31 professional bouts. On Nov. 30, 1956, Patterson knocked out defending champion Archie Moore in the fifth round to win the NBA, NYSAC, & Ring Magazine titles.

At the time, Patterson would become the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history at 21 years, 331 days old. The former Olympian would successfully defend his title four times before losing by a third-round knockout to Ingemar Johanson. Patterson would avenge this loss by knocking out the Swedish fighter in their next two bouts.

Patterson would remain champion until Sonny Liston defeated him in two fights in September 1962 and July 1963. Unfortunately, Patterson would never become a champion again, losing in title fights to Jimmy Ellis and Muhammad Ali. Patterson is regarded as one of the greatest boxers in the history of the sport.

1. “Iron” Mike Tyson

Record: 50-5-1-1

Tyson is a boxing Hall of Famer and by far the most famous Brooklyn boxer ever. The Brownsville native was saved from a troubled life by legendary trainer Cus D’Amato. Under his guidance, Tyson developed his explosive hands into vicious combination punches. Tyson’s excellent head movement and exceptional inside fighting techniques created a devastating force in the ring.

Originally known as “Kid Dynamite,” Tyson would win gold medals at the 1981 and 1982 Junior Olympic Games. Tyson would forgo the 1984 Olympics to turn professional in March 1985. Tyson developed a fearsome reputation for using vicious hooks and uppercuts to punish his opponents.

“Iron” Mike Tyson would create excitement among boxing fans with his devastating early-round knockouts. On November 22, 1986, the Brooklyn native would win the WBC championship with a second-round TKO of Trevor Berbick.

At 20 years, 145 days old, Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history, breaking Floyd Patterson’s long-standing record. Tyson would unify the heavyweight division titles over his subsequent wins versus James Smith, Tony Tucker, and Tyrell Biggs. Tyson would retain the titles for almost three years, defending his belts six times before Feb. 11, 1990.

On that night in Tokyo, Japan. Tyson lost to James “Buster” Douglas by a tenth-round knockout. The punch heard around the world became the greatest upset in boxing history. In July 1991, Tyson was arrested for rape, in which he would serve less than three years in prison for his conviction. Tyson was released from prison in March 1995.

Back in the ring, the former champ earned massive paydays for his first two returning fights against Peter McNeeley & Buster Mathis. After many years of delay, Tyson would face Evander Holyfield for the WBA title. The Brooklyn native lost by TKO in the 11th round. In their second bout, Tyson was disqualified for biting off part of Holyfield’s ear.

In June 2002, a 35-year-old Tyson fought Lennox Lewis in Memphis, Tennessee. The Englishman knocked out the former champion in the eighth round of the fight. Sadly, Tyson would lose two of his last three fights, including a sixth-round defeat to unknown fighter Danny McBride.

Tyson has become a beloved figure since his retirement. He has starred in movies like The Hangover and Ip Man 3. The former champ has also performed a one-person Broadway show, started a legal marijuana business, and host a popular podcast. Tyson’s iconic status cements his spot as the greatest heavyweight fighter from Brooklyn, New York.