Evander Holyfield had many memorable nights under the lights and was, until recently, the only fighter to be undisputed at both cruiserweight and heavyweight.
Despite being joined on that podium by Oleksandr Usyk last month, Holyfield’s legacy in the sport is unquestionable. Wins over Mike Tyson, Buster Douglas and George Foreman stand out, but for many the hard-fought trilogy with Riddick Bowe was the most thrilling chapter.
Holyfield lost his undisputed heavyweight status to underdog Bowe unanimously in 1992 and would reverse the result in a rematch one year on by winning a majority devision. The pair were well-matched, but it was Bowe who won the third and final bout, this time by TKO.
In the final instalment, Holyfield knocked Bowe down for the first time in his professional career with a short, sharp left hook in the sixth. It was against the run of play and Bowe was able to take back control in the eighth with two knockdowns and an eventual stoppage.
Speaking on the JAXXON podcast, the New York native said being dropped spurred him on to punish ‘The Real Deal’, whom he believes was changed for good thereafter.
“When I got up, Holyfield had hell to pay. He’s never been the same.”
Bowe also felt insulted by a wink from his opponent across the ring in between rounds, and credits that for the fuel to find the stoppage.
“He was in his corner, I’m in my corner and we’re facing each other. All of a sudden I seen him look around his trainer and look at me and he winked his eye. Oh no.
It made me think what can I do that’s different? I said I need to hit him with a lead right hand. So when the bell rung I went right to him, lead right hand, and I won by knockout. He winked and I made him stink.”
Bowe fought ten more times before eventually hanging up the gloves in 2008. There’s little doubt that the two-one score with an all-time great like Holyfield is his career’s crowning glory.
Holyfield still had two fights with Tyson and Lennox Lewis to come and plenty more history to write.
