RIDDICK BOWE w pts 12 EVANDER HOLYFIELD
November 13, 1992; Thomas & Mack, Las Vegas, NV
ONE of the greatest of all heavyweight rumbles. One where winner and loser saw their reputations enhanced. Holyfield, the champion, had been forced to endure criticism since he stepped out of the cruiserweight division four years before and straight into the shadow of Mike Tyson. Even when Tyson was in prison that shadow loomed large. The criticism intensified (predominantly due to his perceived lack of punching power and durability) with each passing outing; he failed to put away old men (George Foreman and Larry Holmes) and had trouble with a late, late substitute (Bert Cooper). Bowe, unproven as a pro and the underdog, was also on a mission to prove himself. What followed was a thrilling slugfest that kick-started a fabulous decade for the division.
DID YOU KNOW? Holyfield picked up a cool $17m after his $5m guarantee rose considerably thanks to his percentage of revenues. Bowe earned $5.5m. The fight attracted 900,000 pay-per-view buys in the USA and around 18,000 tickets were sold.
WATCH OUT FOR: Round 10 – what else?
