Naazim Richardson facts for kids
Naazim Richardson was a well-known American boxing trainer from Philadelphia. He was famous for working with many top boxers. These included champions like Bernard Hopkins and "Sugar" Shane Mosley. He also trained Steve Cunningham and Karl Dargan. Naazim Richardson passed away on July 24, 2020.
Early Life and Boxing Beginnings
Naazim Richardson grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When he was 14, he left home. Boxing became a very important part of his life. It gave him focus and a clear purpose.
He worked as a head trainer at the Concrete Gym in Philadelphia. He also trained at other gyms across the city. For some time, Richardson worked alongside another trainer named Bouie Fisher. His son, Rock Allen, was also a boxer before he had a car accident.
A Dedicated Boxing Career
Naazim Richardson was a devout Muslim. Many people in the boxing world often called him "Brother" Naazim. In 2007, Richardson had a stroke. This made it hard for him to walk or speak for a while.
But he worked hard to recover and soon returned to boxing. After his recovery, Richardson became the trainer for "Sugar" Shane Mosley. He helped Mosley in some of his biggest fights. This included Mosley's important win against Antonio Margarito. He also trained Mosley for his fights against Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.
Richardson was also known for noticing something unusual before a fight. He found something suspicious in Antonio Margarito's hand wraps. This discovery led to Margarito being suspended from boxing for one year.
Notable Boxers Naazim Richardson Trained
Naazim Richardson helped many boxers improve their skills. Here are some of the famous fighters he trained or advised:
- Bernard Hopkins
- Shane Mosley
- Karl Dargan (who was also his nephew)
- Badr Hari
- Yusaf Mack (he worked in his corner during fights)
- Sergio Martinez (he was an adviser in his corner for a fight against Julio César Chávez Jr.)
- Steve Cunningham
