Briscoe moved to Philadelphia- his parents and their other children still live in Georgia- as a pudgy 200 pound Teenager. He started boxing in the amatures while a student at Simon Gratz High School in North Philly in 1957.
He won three Middle Atlantic AAU championships in the Welterweight class. In 1962, he was runner up in the nationals.
In 1960 he made a bid for the USA Olympic team. He advanced to the finals of the trials. In those trials was a young man form Louisville, Kentucky, by the name of Cassius Clay.
''He was a friendly cat, who seemed to be in love with the world'' said Briscoe
''Of course, at the time I called him Cassius Clay as that is what he called himself. Today, I call him Muhammad Ali and for the same reason.
He won three Middle Atlantic AAU championships in the Welterweight class. In 1962, he was runner up in the nationals.
In 1960 he made a bid for the USA Olympic team. He advanced to the finals of the trials. In those trials was a young man form Louisville, Kentucky, by the name of Cassius Clay.
''He was a friendly cat, who seemed to be in love with the world'' said Briscoe
''Of course, at the time I called him Cassius Clay as that is what he called himself. Today, I call him Muhammad Ali and for the same reason.
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