Shannon Briggs

Briggs was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. For a period in his childhood he was homeless. In 1983, when Briggs was 12, he saw Mike Tyson in Bristol Park, Brooklyn, New York. Briggs' friends called out, "Here comes Mike." Briggs said he was too scared to run and that seeing Tyson that day "changed his life." At age 17, Briggs began training at Jimmy O'Pharrow's Starrett City Boxing Club in Brooklyn, NY. He was diagnosed with asthma as a child. Briggs' mother died in Brownsville due to a heroin overdose on December 4, 1996, Briggs' 25th birthday.Coached by James O'Farrell, Briggs got his start at the Starrett City Boxing Club. Briggs competed mainly in heavyweight division (201 lbs,) he became New York City Golden Gloves champion, New York State Champion, National P.A.L. Champion and finished second at the Pan American Games in 1991, stepping into the finals on several byes, thus gaining a silver medal already without a single fight, though losing the final to Félix Savón. In 1992 he became the United States Amateur Champion. Along with two national titles in heavyweight was the winner of the 1991 Daily News Golden Gloves superheavyweight title. By December 1991 he was ranked third nationally in his class.

As an amateur he sparred with Phil Jackson, who was a pro at that time, preparing to fight Razor Ruddock. Brigg's lawyer and adviser (equivalent of pro's manager) at that time was Mike Marley, the ex-Post boxing writer. Marley later managed Briggs as a professional.

Briggs competed briefly for the K-1 kickboxing promotion in 2004. In his lone kickboxing match, he knocked out Tom Erikson, a mixed martial artist with a background in collegiate wrestling, just over a minute into round one at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 in Saitama in Saitama, Japan on March 27, 2004.