Brother Naazim Richardson

Naazim Richardson (affectionally known as Brother Naazim) was born on 11/26/1965 in Philadelphia, PA to the late John and Leah Richardson. Naazim's parents, John Alfred Richardson Jr., and Leah Patricia "Patsy" Johnson met around 1962 and wed in 1964.  Naazim was the youngest of this union.  He has an older sister, Carla Richardson.  Early on Naazim exhibited traits as a protector of his family.  He also developed his charismatic and storytelling personality from both of his parents.

Naazim was educated in the Philadelphia Public School System.  Naazim worked in many industries during his career including healthcare,  entertainment, and boxing. Naazim was a pioneer in hip-hop, known in Philly for recording one of the first anti-drug songs entitled 'The Pipe'.  He received considerable airtime on shows like Power 99 FM's "Street Beat" with Lady B.  Additionally, he won on-air competitions amongst several other up and coming artists in the Philly tri-state area. Naazim even created his own label and movement entitled Concrete Jungle.  

Naazim successfully transitioned from his hip-hop career to training boxers after meeting Bernard Hopkins in Gratersford Prison.  Naazim started the boxing Concrete Jungle family in North Philly and trained and inspired several youngsters such as his children and the likes of Karl Dynamite & Mike Sharp Dargan to name a few.  Highlights of his career as a boxing trainer include working with BHop in the majority of 60 plus professional fights, attending the Olympic Trials in 2000 with Tiger and Rock Allen, Olympic 2004 games with Rock Allen, and his uncovering of illegal plaster knuckle pads in the hand wraps of fighter Antonio Margarito before a fight with Sugar Shane Mosley.  This led to a 1-year fight suspension for Margarito and set new standards for professional boxing. Naazim also notably trained Steve USS Cunningham who he led to his 2nd cruiserweight world title. More recently he trained and worked with professional heavyweight Travis Kauffman and Cool Boy Steph

Brother Naazim has left a vast legacy for his family and friends.  His impact whether it be hip-hop, boxing, reaching out, encouraging others, or protecting others has planted seeds near and far. After a long illness, Brother Naazim made his transition early on Friday, July 24, 2020, and will be sorely missed.  He, however; will never be forgotten.

Naazim leaves to mourn his loving wife Adrain Richardson-Allen, 3 sons Tiger, Rock, & Bear, his sister Carla, nephews John & Jonathan, niece Carlea (CJ), aunt Marlene Richardson, grandkids AJ & Baby Bear, a host of cousins, in-laws, friends and family in the boxing world.

We the family would like to give special thanks to Bernard Hopkins, Sugar Shane Mosley, The Cunningham's, The Kauffman's, James Shuler's Boxing Gym, and Shar'ron Baker for all these years of love and support.