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By JEFF LATZKE, Associated Press Writer
August 19, 2004
SHAWNEE, Okla. (AP) -- Former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe is coming out of retirement after a 17-month prison stint, with a scheduled return to the ring Sept. 25.
His first fight in seven years will be against low-ranked heavyweight veteran Jeff Lally (23-23-1, 10 KOs) at Fire Lake Casino, a spokesman for the facility said Thursday.
Bowe (40-1, 32 KOs), who turned 37 on Aug. 10, was released from federal prison in mid-May for kidnapping his first wife, Judy Bowe, and their five children in 1998. While in prison, Bowe reportedly lost 50 to 100 pounds on a regimen that included daily 3-mile runs.
He has not fought since December 1996, when he beat Andrew Golota by disqualification for the second time.
``I truly believe that I'm the best fighter out there, especially when I get in good shape,'' Bowe said. ``The division is wide open, so why not?''
Bowe and his manager, Jimmy Adams, said they know little about Lally (23-23-1, 10 KOs), from Louisville, Ky.
``His claim to glory would be beating Riddick Bowe,'' Adams said.
Since Bowe announced his retirement in April 1997, he has been riddled by problems.
In May 1997, Bowe and his sister, Velma Melton, were involved in a spat in which both reportedly got split lips. Bowe quickly announced a reconciliation.
In 1998, he was arrested for abducting his first wife, Judy Bowe, and their five children. He eventually pleaded guilty to interstate domestic violence and was sentenced to 18 months in prison. He was released in May.
During his trial, the judge barred Bowe from boxing because of possible brain damage, but according to Bowe's attorney, the order was withdrawn when he was released from prison. His attorney added that he is fit to box after undergoing neurological testing.
In April, a judge dismissed a lawsuit filed against Bowe and his former manager, Rock Newman, by a Sports Illustrated photographer who says he was hurt eight years ago during mayhem after one of the boxer's bouts at Madison Square Garden.
In June, Bowe was acquitted of assault charges after his current wife, Terri, and three other alleged victims failed to appear in court.
Bowe was a silver medalist at the 1988 Olympics. He became the undisputed heavyweight champ after beating Evander Holyfield in 1992 but lost the crown to Holyfield the next year.
Bowe thinks he can contend for the heavyweight title within 18 months. He said that when he began boxing, he would frequently fight every month or multiple times in one month.
``Doing it that way, I don't lose focus,'' Bowe said. ``I don't have time to get in trouble or go do other things. My weight stays down. I get sharper. At one point, I used to think I got prettier, but that's not the case.''
Bowe's ascent to the heavyweight title was untarnished. He won his first 31 fights, 29 by knockout, to earn a fight Nov. 13, 1992 against Evander Holyfield for the title. Bowe won by decision.
He lost the WBC title outside the ring when he didn't fight Lennox Lewis -- the same man who beat him to win the gold medal in the 1988 Olympics -- then lost the WBA and IBF titles by majority decision to Holyfield on Nov. 6, 1993. It was his only career loss.
Bowe fought 10 more times, but only flashed dominance in a sixth-round knockout of Jorge Luis Gonzalez in June 1995. Later that year, he was knocked down before stopping Holyfield in the eighth round of a non-title fight.
Bowe was losing both bouts against Golota before disqualifications gave him victories. Golota was called for low blows in both fights.
August 19, 2004
SHAWNEE, Okla. (AP) -- Former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe is coming out of retirement after a 17-month prison stint, with a scheduled return to the ring Sept. 25.
His first fight in seven years will be against low-ranked heavyweight veteran Jeff Lally (23-23-1, 10 KOs) at Fire Lake Casino, a spokesman for the facility said Thursday.
Bowe (40-1, 32 KOs), who turned 37 on Aug. 10, was released from federal prison in mid-May for kidnapping his first wife, Judy Bowe, and their five children in 1998. While in prison, Bowe reportedly lost 50 to 100 pounds on a regimen that included daily 3-mile runs.
He has not fought since December 1996, when he beat Andrew Golota by disqualification for the second time.
``I truly believe that I'm the best fighter out there, especially when I get in good shape,'' Bowe said. ``The division is wide open, so why not?''
Bowe and his manager, Jimmy Adams, said they know little about Lally (23-23-1, 10 KOs), from Louisville, Ky.
``His claim to glory would be beating Riddick Bowe,'' Adams said.
Since Bowe announced his retirement in April 1997, he has been riddled by problems.
In May 1997, Bowe and his sister, Velma Melton, were involved in a spat in which both reportedly got split lips. Bowe quickly announced a reconciliation.
In 1998, he was arrested for abducting his first wife, Judy Bowe, and their five children. He eventually pleaded guilty to interstate domestic violence and was sentenced to 18 months in prison. He was released in May.
During his trial, the judge barred Bowe from boxing because of possible brain damage, but according to Bowe's attorney, the order was withdrawn when he was released from prison. His attorney added that he is fit to box after undergoing neurological testing.
In April, a judge dismissed a lawsuit filed against Bowe and his former manager, Rock Newman, by a Sports Illustrated photographer who says he was hurt eight years ago during mayhem after one of the boxer's bouts at Madison Square Garden.
In June, Bowe was acquitted of assault charges after his current wife, Terri, and three other alleged victims failed to appear in court.
Bowe was a silver medalist at the 1988 Olympics. He became the undisputed heavyweight champ after beating Evander Holyfield in 1992 but lost the crown to Holyfield the next year.
Bowe thinks he can contend for the heavyweight title within 18 months. He said that when he began boxing, he would frequently fight every month or multiple times in one month.
``Doing it that way, I don't lose focus,'' Bowe said. ``I don't have time to get in trouble or go do other things. My weight stays down. I get sharper. At one point, I used to think I got prettier, but that's not the case.''
Bowe's ascent to the heavyweight title was untarnished. He won his first 31 fights, 29 by knockout, to earn a fight Nov. 13, 1992 against Evander Holyfield for the title. Bowe won by decision.
He lost the WBC title outside the ring when he didn't fight Lennox Lewis -- the same man who beat him to win the gold medal in the 1988 Olympics -- then lost the WBA and IBF titles by majority decision to Holyfield on Nov. 6, 1993. It was his only career loss.
Bowe fought 10 more times, but only flashed dominance in a sixth-round knockout of Jorge Luis Gonzalez in June 1995. Later that year, he was knocked down before stopping Holyfield in the eighth round of a non-title fight.
Bowe was losing both bouts against Golota before disqualifications gave him victories. Golota was called for low blows in both fights.
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