Boxing has lost another great trainer
Naazim Richardson, the mentor of Bernard Hopkins, Shane Mosley, Steve Cunningham and many others, has died. He reportedly suffered a stroke in 2007 and had been in poor health the past few years.
Richardson, from Philadelphia, assisted Bouie Fisher before becoming a noted trainer in his own right working out of the Shuler Gym.
He arguably had his most success working with Hopkins, the seven-time world titleholder and a competitive fighter into his late 40s. Hopkins and Richardson both overcame challenges to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
“We feed off each other’s adversity,” Hopkins told the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2014. “Everyone has a story that could have ended their lives or stopped their careers. But somehow we found a way to not fall victim to those challenges. It’s good to know that he’s a fighter, not a quitter.”
Today we lost a legend in the #Boxing community. RIP Nazim Richardson. pic.twitter.com/2MS4GXvdXt
— Evander Holyfield (@holyfield) July 24, 2020
Richardson made news in 2009, when, as the trainer of Mosley, he discovered a foreign object in the hand wraps of Antonio Margarito during routine oversight at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Mexican was allowed to fight and suffered a knockout loss.
Afterward, Margarito was suspended and his trainer, Javier Capetillo, was banned from working corners.
Richardson was a favorite of boxing writers. He was always available for interviews and invariably offered thoughtful, insightful comments.
His sons Tiger and Rock Allen, as well as nephew Karl Dargan, have fought professionally.
Roger Mayweather, another respected trainer, died in March.
RIP to my oldhead. Was the only Philly trainer to show me love when I started out. Was the last person in the locker room when Jrock lost to Charlo. And the last person in the locker room when Jrock beat Hurd. My man! pic.twitter.com/DFTSqmDt88
— Stephen Edwards (@BreadmanBoxing) July 24, 2020