He was a good fighter but was too often out of shape.He should have done more than he did.After winning the titles he had 2 pathetic fights against Fergerson and Dokes.He should have had a better set up than Rock Newman and his team.With proper management he could have had a far better career.
Agree it was a ***** move. But he would have never beaten Lewis. Apparently , Riddick realized this as well, thus the dropping of the WBC belt in the garbage can, rather than face Lennox. I guess he remembered almost being murdered by Lewis in the Olympics.
If you read more on the internet you'll see the WBC along with Don King is what started all this crap. It wasnt about Lennox Lewis it was about Jose Suliaman and Don King teaming up trying to make Bowe fight King promoted fighters.
After becoming champion Riddick Bowe got very rich very quickly and it all went to his head. Rock Newman had him doing a world tour when he became champion, meeting Nelson Mandela and doing a lot of self-promotion, and he seemed to lose focus on his boxing car and piled on the pounds. Bowe did some really weird **** when he was boxing: sucker punching Larry Donald at a press conference; punching Elijah Tillery after the bell and then knocking him over the ropes with the help of Newman; punching Buster Mathis when he was down. And he somehow got away with all of it. He was immensely talented but clearly had a screw loose. After retiring he tried to join the Marine Corps, quitting after two days training, and did jail time for attempting to kidnap his wife and kids. He's now lost all his money and is clearly suffering from serious brain trauma. A sad story that would be shocking in any sport other than boxing.
This link has an article that was posted and pretty much goes through all the aspects of King, the WBC, the big HBO contract etc. There is some truth to Bowe ducking but it wasnt because Bowe was just scared of Lewis, it had a lot to do with future fights control and maximizing the money that came with being the champion. The Lewis fight was going to be there and was later signed its just that Lewis lost to Mcall which derailed the fight again and then Bowe lost to Golota who was supposed to be a tuneup for Lewis and ultimately ended Bowes career. type in boxing scene no spaces [url]http://www.***********.com/forums/showthread.php?t=296041[/url]
Even if that were the case, he still never took Lewis on although had plenty of opportunity to. Fighting the likes of Dokes instead is pretty pathetic.
How did he blow all his money away? I saw a recent interview with guy and his speech was all messed up, sad story indeed.
He was supposed to fight Ray Mercer after but Mercer lost to Jesse Ferguson so he fought Ferguson instead. The fight with Lewis was signed in March of 1994 but Lewis lost to Mcall and lost his title. The fight was again signed in 96, but Bowe retired after the golota fights. People would have thought a lot different about Bowe had he faced Mercer but Mercer sucked in the early 90's
yep i agree riddick bowe was desperate to fight lennox lewis in the 4 fight heavyweight tournament arranged by hbo. the history books are clearly on your side and every bit of eveidence not so far found backs you up. must run my unicorn is waiting.
I'm not really sure, probably the same way all boxers do: spending beyond his means, bad investments, thieving hangers-on, legal expenses etc. I'm guessing Rock Newman didn't help.