The Most Misunderstood Heavy weight, From Homeless to Champion of the world! Shannon Briggs
This one wasn’t planned. In the middle of NYC traffic, a chance Uber ride turned into a once-in-a-lifetime conversation with **Shannon "The Cannon" Briggs** – and it's one of the most emotional episodes we’ve ever recorded.
The former World Heavyweight Champion opens up like never before about:
- Growing up homeless in Brownsville, Brooklyn
- His first fight at 16, sparked by fear of crossing a bridge
- George Foreman’s power & Lennox Lewis’ greatness
- Regret, redemption, and the hunt for a perfect trainer
- Life after boxing: cannabis, acting, family, legacy
- Mental health, motivation, addiction, and survival
- His Mount Rushmore of Boxing (surprising picks!)
If you're a boxing fan, a fighter, or just someone chasing a dream — this episode is for you. LET'S GO CHAMP.
Transcript
00:00 – The most insane guest story in podcast history (how we met Shannon)
03:00 – Brownsville, Brooklyn: addiction, homelessness & survival
07:15 – The bridge, the bet, and the beginning: Shannon's first fight at 16
13:00 – Sleeping in boxing gyms, hustling for food, no plan B
16:45 – Backyard brawls to golden gloves: discovering raw talent
18:40 – Muhammad Ali tapes, imitating greatness, faking confidence
22:00 – Winning nationals, breaking hands, losing the Olympic dream
26:30 – Turning pro, chasing checks, and bluffing through fear
29:45 – The 25-0 run, media hype, and crashing vs Darrol Wilson
34:00 – Blackballed by HBO & fighting his way back from the bottom
36:45 – Facing George Foreman: what Foreman *really* smelled like
42:30 – Why Lennox Lewis hit him harder mentally than physically
47:00 – Losing his mother during camp & hiding heartbreak from the world
51:45 – Winning the WBO World Title – but feeling empty inside
55:00 – “I was my own worst enemy” – full-circle reflection
59:15 – Klitschko fight, broken ribs, and never being dropped
::1:08:30 – Calling out Haye, crashing Klitschko’s workouts & wild PR tactics
::1:16:10 – Prime Usyk vs Holyfield: Briggs’ surprising take
::1:20:25 – Briggs’ Mount Rushmore of boxing (Jack Johnson to Roy Jones Jr.)
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