By John DiSanto
Photos by Darryl Cobb, Jr.

The best of the Philadelphia boxing scene was honored at the 7th annual Briscoe Awards on Sunday, October 19th, at the Flat Iron Sports Bar in South Philly. The awards were created by the web site PhillyBoxingHistory.com, and are presented every year in the name of Philadelphia middleweight legend Bennie Briscoe. The awards given away, the Briscoe Statuette and the Briscoe Medal, are casted in Briscoe’s likeness.
For the third consecutive year, junior welterweight champion Danny Garcia was named the “Philly Fighter of the Year” (2013, 2012 & 2011). Garcia also won a Briscoe Medal for the “2013 Performance of the Year” for his 12-round victory over Lucas Matthysse. Garcia did not attend the event.

Gathered with the award winners and their families at this free public event were stars of the current local boxing scene, numerous retired ring celebrities, other boxing people, and boxing fans.

Before the awards were handed out, former cruiserweight champion Nate Miller entertained the crowd by playing guitar.

Junior middleweight Julian “J-Rock” Williams took home the Briscoe Medal as the “2013 Prospect of the Year”. Manny Folly was named the “2013 Rookie of the Year”. Stephen Fulton Jr. was the “2013 Amateur of the Year”. Julio De Jesus won the “KO of the Year” for his first round knockout of Ray Ellis. Tevin Farmer was recognized as the “Breakout Fighter of 2013″. The 10-round Pennsylvania light heavyweight title bout between Anthony Caputo Smith and Dhafir Smith was named the “2013 Local Fight of the Year”. Also honored on Sunday was amateur boxer Dylan Price who won went home with the “Everett Brothers Award”, given by former boxers Mike Everett and Eddie Everett in memory of their late brother Tyrone Everett.

In attendance at the event were boxing luminaries such as Jeff Chandler, Steve Cunningham, Bryant Jennings, Buster Drayton, Robert “Bam” Hines, Nate Miller, Curtis Parker, Ivan Robinson, Sidney “Sweat Pea” Adams, Dick Turner, Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, Joey Dawejko, Thomas “Cornflake” Lamanna, Earl Hargrove, Johnny Carter, Russell Peltz, Brother Naazim Richardson, Buster Custus, Fred Jenkins, Joey Eye, Brittany Rogers, Steve Smoger, Hank Kropinski, Herbie Brown, Dennis Heffernan, Carmen Bartolomeo, Charlie Cummings, Fred Druding, Norman Torpey Jr., Fred Jenkins Jr., Emmanuel Taylor, Marvin Mack, Lionel Byarm, Kevin Perry, Charles Sgrillo, John Gallagher, writers Jack Obermayer, Jeff Jowett, Ken Hissner, Gabriel Oppenheim, Rich Pagano, Marc Abrams, historian Chuck Hasson, and others.

To read more on the Philly fight scene, visit www.phillyboxinghistory.com.