WHEN Riddick Bowe tossed the WBC title into a bin in December 1992, his
actions sent shockwaves throughout the boxing world.
Bowe, who had been crowned the undisputed heavyweight king just a month
earlier when he defeated Evander Holyfield, made the unexpected move after
being warned he would be stripped of the prestigious green belt if he did
not agree terms to fight Lennox Lewis.
The American believed Lewis was demanding too much cash for a challenger and
opted to trash the championship before it could be ripped from his grasp by
the governing body.
At the time, Bowe claimed: “The WBC is wrong and I will not be intimidated by
them.
“I am the heavyweight champion of the world and I withdraw my recognition of
the WBC. For as long as I am champion, I will not recognise or defend this
dishonest belt.”
Today, despite standing by his decision, the man known as Big Daddy openly
admits he regrets relinquishing the crown in such a manner.
But as the majority of fight fans will tell you, Bowe’s achievements should
not be overshadowed by one moment of controversy.
After being denied a gold medal by Lewis at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the 6ft
5in Brooklyn native turned pro under the guidance of respected trainer Eddie
Futch.
He made his debut in the paid ranks in 1989 and racked up 43 victories before
retiring in 2008 with just one blemish on his record — a majority points
defeat to long-term rival Evander Holyfield.
While the lure of a return has always been strong, Bowe continues to enjoy
life away from the sweet science and even turns a blind eye to events in the
sport he loves to ensure the temptation to lace them up once again never
becomes too hard to resist.
And as SunSport discovered when the heavyweight great revealed all at London’s
O2 Arena, he is happiest reminiscing about the days when he ruled the
division.
What brings you to the UK?
Let me get straight to it — I want to help the kids. I want them to put the
weapons down and take it to the gym. For me, it’s very important to show
them there is another way. After all, if someone hadn’t looked out for me,
where would I have been?
Looking back at your career, what stands out as the best moment?
I guess the first time I fought Evander for the undisputed world heavyweight
championship [on November 13 1992]. He was always in great shape and very
determined. If you played with him, he would hurt you — he was always very
serious.
As you say, Evander was always in great condition — and still is today —
but are you surprised he’s not officially retired?
No, I’m not surprised at all. He’s always training and always in shape, unlike
myself who is looking a little bit chunky right now! Evander, you know, he’s
not like that.
Why is it so difficult for some boxers to walk away from the sport?
I guess you get used to it — it’s what you are and what you love. For most
fighters, you simply do it until you physically can’t do it any more.
Have you ever been tempted to make a comeback?
I’m tempted every day — that’s why for the most part I don’t go to fights.
When you’re at a fight, it makes you want to hear the crowd cheering for you
again, so I just stay home.
Do you keep up with what’s happening in the boxing world today?
No, because that’s part of it. If I see the guys in there fighting, it makes
me want to get back to it, so I stay away.
Is there anything you would like to change about your career?
I would change my manager [Rock Newman]. That guy was real slick. I guess
initially he had good intentions, but as the money got bigger it changed him
— as opposed to it changing me.
Would you like to warn young boxers about the politics of the sport?
Absolutely, you need to know that your manager is always doing right by you. I
actually have a book coming out real soon, and I would like the young guys
to read it and let me explain the pitfalls of boxing. If you get a guy who
knows what he’s talking about, you’ve got a chance of making more money.
So as well as dodging punches, you’ve also got to watch your back
financially?
Like I say, initially, people start out with good intentions. But as you go on
and the money gets bigger and bigger, all that changes.
How much does that impact on your preparations for a big fight?
It has a profound effect on you, no doubt about it. But I didn’t really think
about it because I believed people had my best interests at heart. I didn’t
realise otherwise until I retired — and it was too late at that point.
As British fight fans will remember, you took the WBC title and dumped it
in a bin instead of fighting Lewis. Do you regret that?
Absolutely, absolutely. Looking back, I wish we’d given him whatever he had
wanted for that fight. He wanted parity and I wish I’d have agreed to that.
At the time, why did that not happen?
Well, he wanted the same money as I was getting, but I was the champion!
Before I beat him, Evander had said to me that he’d give me 25 per cent of
the money and that if I thought I could whoop him, I should accept it and go
on to make more in the future. Lennox wasn’t any different to me, so why
couldn’t he accept the same thing?
We know who we can beat and who is going to give us a hard time — and he knew
he couldn’t do anything with me as a professional. They gave him the gold
medal at the Olympics, but mano a mano, he couldn’t beat me.
If we put you on the spot right now, do you genuinely believe you’d have
won?
Unequivocally! If you’d have bet your house on it, you’d have had two of them!
Would it have been on points or would you have knocked him out?
A knockout, of course, anything less would have been uncivilised.
Although you don’t follow boxing closely any more, there’s surely no way
Floyd Mayweather will have escaped your attention?
We know about Floyd, but if he had been around with the likes of Tommy Hearns,
it would have been totally different.
Some people argue that Floyd is only in boxing for the money. Do you regret
you didn’t make more from your career?
I have no regrets, I had a ball. Listen, I’m from the ghetto and I’ve been to
London — I’ve been all over the world two or three times. Boxing’s been
great for me, so I have no regrets.
How much does the fact you’re still remembered mean to you?
Man, I guess you can’t buy that. It’s love. I appreciate every fan who comes
up to me for a picture or autograph.