Today marks the anniversary of the final chapter in one of heavyweight boxing’s most thrilling trilogies. On November 4, 1995, Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield and Riddick “Big Daddy” Bowe squared off at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas to settle a rivalry that began three years earlier with their first encounter. Bowe emerged victorious, taking the lead in a series that had been tied with one win each, by knocking out Holyfield in the eighth round of a match that was strange in some ways but not without its suspense and twists. Let’s celebrate the anniversary of Holyfield vs Bowe 3 by revisiting the three chapters of this saga designed for true boxing fans!
Chapter 1: Riddick Bowe at the Top of the World
The reigning king of two weight divisions, having made waves as a heavyweight after dominating the cruiserweight category, now faced a true heavyweight who was 13 kilograms heavier. The ingredients for a sensational battle at Las Vegas’ Thomas & Mack Center were all there, and the fight didn’t disappoint. The reigning champion, favored after seizing his titles with a formidable KO over James Douglas and defending them against legends like George Foreman and Larry Holmes, was expected to triumph. By contrast, Bowe had demonstrated his impressive skills against mid-tier fighters; the fight with Evander was to be his real test. After the first round, Bowe shook off any nerves, took firm control of the match, and used his size advantage expertly, backing it up with an outstanding jab and terrifying combinations. Evander stayed in the fight thanks to his boundless heart, but his assaults couldn’t break through Bowe’s defense. In the tenth round, a vicious uppercut nearly ended it for the champion: Holyfield staggered, taking hit after hit, but somehow held on, turned the tide, and finished the round strong! It was, however, his swan song; Bowe dropped him in the following round and claimed a well-deserved points victory.
Chapter 2: The Real Deal’s Revenge
When the two met again a year later, their roles had reversed in the eyes of the bookmakers. This time, Bowe was the favorite, bolstered by his previous win and unbeaten record. The venue was now Caesars Palace, and early on, the fight seemed to echo their first encounter: Bowe, confidently shielded by his powerful left jab, won the first three rounds, keeping at bay a strangely passive challenger. Then suddenly, the unbeaten champion’s work rate dropped drastically, allowing Holyfield to catch up and even the scorecards. Just as Bowe appeared ready to pick up the pace again, a shocking event interrupted the night: the flamboyant James “Fan Man” Miller descended from the sky with a parachute, clinging to the ropes of the ring and subsequently getting beaten by the crowd. With the parachute tangled in the arena’s lights, it took more than twenty minutes to resume the match. Visibly affected by the long interruption, both boxers went back to trading blows, with rounds going back and forth. At the end of a fight that could have gone either way without controversy, the judges awarded Holyfield a narrow victory, restoring him to the throne he had lost a year earlier.
Chapter 3: The Decider
The shared story of these two indomitable warriors couldn’t end without a third match to determine the trilogy’s definitive victor. The final showdown, however, came two years later, at a point when Holyfield seemed to be on the decline. The Real Deal had surprisingly lost his titles to former light heavyweight Michael Moorer in a fight that ended with him hospitalized due to dehydration and suspected heart issues. Once again, Bowe entered the Caesars Palace ring as the favorite. As mentioned in the introduction, this final fight was unusual. Holyfield soon appeared to be in poor physical condition, visibly struggling and moving unsteadily after just a few rounds. The impression was so strong that George Foreman, commenting ringside, stood up and shouted at the referee to stop the fight, fearing Holyfield was suffering from the heart problems diagnosed (and later dismissed) a year and a half earlier. Despite the challenges, however, Holyfield nearly worked a miracle with a champion’s flair: at the beginning of the sixth round, he unleashed a flurry of punches and floored Bowe with a deadly left hook! The energy he used up trying to end the fight ultimately drained him, and two rounds later, Bowe repaid him with a crushing right in the middle of a furious exchange. The Real Deal got back up, but he was immediately stopped, marking the end of a historic and amazing trilogy.