By tmz.com
Riddick Bowe is back!! We’re told the 53-year-old former 2x heavyweight champion has inked a deal with Celebrity Boxing to fight October 23 in Miami.
Bowe — who last fought to a unanimous decision victory in December 2008 — does not yet have an opponent.
Back in his day, Riddick was one of the BADDEST dudes in the world. His pro record stands at 43-1 (33 KO’s) … with 1 of those big wins coming at the expense of the legendary Evander Holyfield.
Bowe is just the latest 50-something former champ to re-lace up the gloves.
Late last year, Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. fought an exhibition match that ended in a draw.
Speaking of 55-year-old Iron Mike … we’re told Bowe actually has interest in fighting Tyson.
It’s a fight boxing fans badly wanted back in the day, but the stars never aligned for Mike and Riddick.
We’re told fight promoters are currently tracking down an opponent … and an announcement will be made sometime over the next few weeks.
Unless things have changed the last interview I saw with Big Daddy was with Holyfeid while he ate Pizza and Evander was the only one who knew what he said. That said I think Holy’s speech has improved over the years.
I was under the impression years ago many reports stated Bowe suffered from CTE and had impairments. Hmmm, guess I was misinformed. I also recall the stint Bowe signed up for the military and could not cut the mustard. At least that is what the media implied.
Bowe joined the USMC.
Don’t think that he made it thru boot camp.
I’m wondering when guys like Bowe, Meldrick Taylor, Terry Norris, and others who show signs of brain injury become eligible for Disability?
Yes, they would be eligible to apply and be considered for disability. However, cognitive function and the ability to “work” is where the government makes its arguments. So many “milkers” in our system make it difficult to receive disability for those who really need it.
Damon 🙂
No Bowe. Dude has serious brain damage. All the other boxers mentioned keep themselves in good shape. He was really embarrassed in his kickboxing match.
Seemed like when Bowe had his wars with Golota that’s when the physical damage was apparent.
The 2nd Golota fight in particular. He seemed to slur his words immediately after that. I also remember reading how the press corps were looking at each during the post fight conference, real disturbed, as he talked.
Lol .I remember Golota busted his balls .
The article mentions that one of Bowe’s big wins came against Holyfield. Bowe actually beat him twice.
Anyway, of all the retired boxers coming back, this idea seems the worst yet. Bowe is in no condition to be fighting anymore, even in an exhibition. Would he have to pass a physical, or some kind of evaluation to participate in an exhibition? He wasn’t in good shape at all last I saw him. The article mentioned that promoters are currently tracking down opponents. Wonder if any of them gave a shyt about his well-being and advised him against this. Something tells me they saw $$$ and ignored everything else. If there’s any good in this sport, somebody will step in and stop him from fighting again.
Agreed, it’s all about the money and safety is debatable.
The only way to step in and stop him is to step in and stop him. Bowe vs Tyson? Why not
TMZ reporters are fanboys to who ever they are talking to. Don’t expect correct data or historical accuracy.
Hopefully, hardly any one will pay for this and RB stays retired.
Bowe is the last person I wanted to see back in the ring. He’s severely overweight and slurs his speech. He’s obviously impaired. The potential for a return to the ring sounds great for him, but I doubt that he will succeed in actually doing it.
Agreed. Bowe looked really bad in his comeback which was over 15 years ago. He barely beat some journeyman. His neurological impairment was obvious THEN. He will get seriously hurt if he’s fighting anyone with a pulse.
The WBA, in furtherance of it’s “We’ll Belt Anybody” mantra, has announced that Bowe’s first fight will be for the new WBA Overweight Championship of the World…
Who the hell would ever give a license to Riddick Bowe unless someone want to see Bowe get killed in the ring… This news is more sad than anything else
Why not start a GoFundMe for the guy if you think he’s risking his health for money? Fighting is all these guys know and what they do best.
If they had options to make a good living they would likely take it.
They need solutions not opinions. These guys go from rags to riches, champion to pauper.
Surely they feel somethings missing and they only know one way to get it.
You are right. Many times over bad money investments resulting in a low checkbook balance usually force them back to the ring. Hmmm, financial planners usually charge fair fees. I personally use a financial planner on retirement investments and they are a wealth of help. I am sure their loved ones have told them returning to the ring is a bad option. I would love to see Riddick’s CT scan images of his head now as compared to ones taken decades ago.
@NJ Boxing I suppose all fighters risk their health for money, even the great ones. Look what happened to Ali. But, there comes a time when boxing commissions need to step in and save someone like Bowe from himself. Years back, there was a Heavyweight by the name of Nate Jones. He retired after doctors diagnosed him with diminished reflexes and speech. He was only 30 at the time, and not nearly in as bad of shape as Bowe is now, and Bowe is 53. The problem, IMO, is that Jones had to make that call himself, not any boxing commission. As soon as a fighter shows signs of “dimished reflexes and speech”, it might be time to do the right thing and pull that fighter’s license.
The promoters of this card should start the Go Fund Me up for Mr .Bowe! He is still my favourite fighter from back in the day and even though it’s all he knows no commission should okay him fighting nowadays
Agreed. There is a Professional Boxer’s pension fund. Not sure what kind of money they get out of that or how it’s funded, but it’s something.
It’s a no brainer. Either Riddick gets in the ring with Lennox Lewis for old times sake, or Mike Tyson, but the best one of all might be “The South Pole” Andrew Golota.
I do admire the matchup against Lewis! Riddick dodged Lewis back in the heyday.
I know Lennox Lewis and the level of his character … as a result, I doubt he would participate in a bout with Riddick Bowe … Big Daddy is risking VERY SERIOUS damage if he is ever punched in the head again … Riddick is a wonderful and I pray he does not get in the ring ever again except to be honored at someone else’s fight … If Florida Boxing Commission sanctions this they and the promoter should be sued … hopefully the Governor will step in and stop this tragedy waiting to happen
He has 3 losses they were called DQ’s but Golota put a beatin on that kid 2X. Can’t argue that. Bowe is lucky that Andrew spazzed out both times, he coulda killed him
A DQ is a DQ. Golota blew those due to what likely was some sort of anxiety on his part. I thought that Bowe, in his only official loss in the Holyfield rematch, probably should have been given that decision. Punch stat numbers from that fight: Bowe 353 of 786, Holyfield 253 of 514. The AP had Bowe winning 115-113. Always thought Bowe just outworked him that night, and the numbers back that up.
Bowe really declined in a hurry towards the end of his career. I thought he was the best Heavyweight in the world up until the third Holyfield fight. Better than Tyson. Better than Lewis. Lewis eventually turned out to be better than Bowe, IMO anyway, after Manny Stewart had him for awhile, but there was a time that Bowe seemed the more complete fighter. Seemed he went from his prime to completely washed up in about a year. He looked great in beating Jorge Luis Gonzalez on 6-17-95, then faded to nothing in Golota 1 on 7-11-96 and Golota 2 on 12-14-96. The guy just hit a wall it seemed.
Bowe needs to fight for food. Another fight means the difference between being able to eat out or eating at home.
Why not let Bowe come back. We might get to see Bowe vs Holy 3, Bowe vs Lennox Lewis or Bowe vs Tyson. The younger fighters are dodging each other so why not have the legends show them how its done?
Bowe vs. Holyfield 3 already happened. They fought three times. Bowe won the first fight, Holyfield won the second (fan-man fight), and Bowe stopped Holyfield in their third fight.
Always been a Bowe fan. It’s common knowledge he has financial issues. The previous poster who mentioned a GoFundme page seems like the right thing to do. The wars with Holy and others like the Foul Pole along with a long career of boxing have certainly taken it’s toll. He sure gave us many hours of entertainment over the years, and it would be nice to help him out. Whoever is allowing him to get in the ring should be banned for life or maybe worse. Godspeed champ.
He’s brain damaged! Come on man anyone who makes this fight happen, they should be pout in prison! This is horrible…
Felt sad when I read about this. I know nothing about RB life apart from the gossip and some rumors.
But can not help but think that for old boxers, pension insurance or similar, should be arranged by the large organizations to secure their lives after their careers.
It is obvious why. Have no more to say.
Great thought except the organizations have shown time after time they only care about themselves. The fighters devote their lives and health to the sport to only be cast aside once they are no longer able to put butts in the buckets.
Yes I agree but I want a change
Nothing but his own fault he has financial problems. How many millions did he make and people think he should be handed a freebe. People that can’t buy food or pay rent due to health concerns etc are the ones that deserve a Go Fund Me not Bowe who made his own choices
Nooooooooo Bowe, please do not return to the ring. I have serious concerns about Bowe’s physical/mental health.
As for the USMC, I believe Riddick quit within a few days. If you hang in there, the USMC will try to make you a US Marine; but if you desire to quit, the USMC can’t work with you much.
If, at the tender young age of 17, and weighing 130 pounds “soaked and wet”, I could make it thru USMC Boot Camp at Parris Island, SC, – then Riddick Bowe should have been able to “hack it”.
Really bad idea, Bowe was slurring after his fights with Golota 25+ years ago and he’s gotten much worse with age.
None of these 50+ year old guys should be getting punched in the head, pretty much all of them sounds mentally damaged to me.
Did we learn nothing from the comebacks from Ali, Quarry etc? Or do we just not care?
Why even publish TMZ garbage. History to these brain dead fools started tomorrow. Absolutely no relevance.
This has to be one of the saddest things ever. I was a huge Bowe fan, but the guy has serious cognitive issues and the last interview I saw with him he could barely walk and get around. I hope this fight doesn’t materialize and that he gets a pay day some other way.
This is a disaster waiting to happen, I’m one not against a fighter returning but let it be a fighter that has something to gain. One who can still be a driving force and make an impact. Riddick has some trauma from boxing which is very clear in the eyes of many so why would a commission even approve of something such as this. I believe his speech is slurred enough he had excessive weight gain and just hasn’t looked great in all these years and this is my opinion so don’t no say anything dumb, I will check it at the door. I’m the same age is Riddick a former fighter and I have stayed in great shape since leaving the sport but even like 15 years ago when It came close to returning, I came to my senses!
Probably get called out by Trevor Bryan
Anyone giving him a boxing licence is a fucking idiot!
Two guys (and I like neither as people) who should never be fighting again (judging by how they look/speak these days) are James Toney and Riddick Bowe.
I’m not a fan of these comebacks even in exhibitions but at least guys like RJJ still sound good.
What the hell has boxing come too? I want to thank the fighters of the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s for being great and giving boxing fans fights to remember. Now, boxing is SHIT and basically the WWE.
He should not be allowed anywhere near a ring. Last time I saw him he could barely walk and he was hard to understand.
Bowe needs to fight Danny Williams
With 2 of those victories coming at the expense of Holyfield. Know what the hell you’re talking about if you gonna write an article.