Riddick Lamont Bowe (born August 10, 1967) is an American former professional boxer and professional kickboxer who competed between 1989 and 2008 in boxing, and from 2013 to 2016 in kickboxing (Muay Thai). He held the undisputed world heavyweight championship in 1992, and won the super heavyweight silver medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
After turning professional in 1989, Bowe went on to become a two-time world heavyweight champion. In 1992 he became the unified heavyweight champion by winning the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Council (WBC) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) titles by defeating then-unbeaten former undisputed cruiserweight champion Evander Holyfield. That same year, Bowe was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers' Association of America. Bowe vacated the WBC title later that year in protest, instead of defending the title against their number one contender, Lennox Lewis. This left the championship fragmented until 1999. In a rematch with Holyfield in 1993, Bowe narrowly lost the WBA and IBF titles in what would be his only professional defeat.
BoxRec-style profile
- Birth name: Riddick Lamont Bowe
- Born: August 10, 1967 — New York City, New York, U.S.
- Nationality: American
- Height: 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
- Reach: 81 in (206 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Pro debut: Mar 6, 1989 (Win by TKO vs Lionel Butler)
- Last bout: Dec 13, 2008 (Win by UD vs Gene Pukall)
- Total rounds boxed: 195 (summed from the bout table below)
- Divisions: Heavyweight
- KO percentage: 76.7% (33 KO wins in 43 wins)
- Titles held (major, with reign dates): WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight titles November 13, 1992 – November 6, 1993 (won from Evander Holyfield; the February 6, 1993 defense against Michael Dokes carried the WBA and IBF titles and the May 22, 1993 defense against Jesse Ferguson the WBA title, per the bout table; lost the WBA and IBF titles back to Holyfield); WBO heavyweight title March 11, 1995 – 1996 (won from Herbie Hide; defended against Jorge Luis González, per the bout table) — all dates per the bout table
Record at a glance
- Total bouts: 45
- Wins: 43
- Wins by KO: 33
- Losses: 1
- Losses by KO: 0
- Draws: 0
- No contests: 1
- Born: August 10, 1967 — New York City, New York, U.S.
- Nationality: American
- Height: 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
- Reach: 81 in (206 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Divisions: Heavyweight
Fight-by-fight record
| No. | Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Round/Time | Venue / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 6, 1989 | Lionel Butler | Win | TKO | 2 (4), 1:55 | Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S. |
| 2 | Apr 14, 1989 | Tracy Thomas | Win | TKO | 3, 1:57 | Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 3 | May 9, 1989 | Garing Lane | Win | UD | 4 | Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 4 | Jul 2, 1989 | Antonio Whiteside | Win | TKO | 1 (6), 1:19 | Cumberland County Crown Coliseum, Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S. |
| 5 | Jul 15, 1989 | Lorenzo Canady | Win | RTD | 2 (6), 3:00 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 6 | Sep 3, 1989 | Lee Moore | Win | KO | 1 | Pensacola, Florida, U.S. |
| 7 | Sep 15, 1989 | Anthony Hayes | Win | KO | 1 (6), 1:21 | Gleason's Arena, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 8 | Sep 19, 1989 | Earl Lewis | Win | TKO | 1 (6), 1:26 | Veteran's Coliseum, Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| 9 | Oct 19, 1989 | Mike Acey | Win | TKO | 1 (4), 2:26 | Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 10 | Nov 4, 1989 | Garing Lane | Win | TKO | 4 (6), 1:50 | Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 11 | Nov 18, 1989 | Don Askew | Win | TKO | 1, 2:21 | Coolidge High School, Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| 12 | Nov 28, 1989 | Art Card | Win | RTD | 3 (8), 3:00 | Alumni Arena, Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| 13 | Dec 14, 1989 | Charles Woolard | Win | TKO | 2, 2:46 | St. Joseph, Missouri, U.S. |
| 14 | Feb 20, 1990 | Mike Robinson | Win | TKO | 3, 1:58 | Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 15 | Apr 1, 1990 | Robert Colay | Win | TKO | 2 (6), 0:49 | D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| 16 | Apr 14, 1990 | Eddie Gonzales | Win | UD | 8 | The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 17 | May 8, 1990 | Jesus Contreras | Win | KO | 1 (10), 1:18 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 18 | Jul 8, 1990 | Art Tucker | Win | TKO | 3 (10), 1:41 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 19 | Sep 7, 1990 | Pinklon Thomas | Win | RTD | 8 (10), 3:00 | UDC Physical Activities Center, Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| 20 | Oct 25, 1990 | Bert Cooper | Win | KO | 2 (10), 3:09 | The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 21 | Dec 14, 1990 | Tony Morrison | Win | KO | 1, 2:20 | Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| 22 | Mar 2, 1991 | Tyrell Biggs | Win | TKO | 8 (10), 2:17 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 23 | Apr 20, 1991 | Tony Tubbs | Win | UD | 10 | Caesar's, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 24 | Jun 28, 1991 | Rodolfo Marin | Win | KO | 2 (10), 1:45 | The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 25 | Jul 23, 1991 | Philipp Brown | Win | TKO | 3 (10), 2:47 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 26 | Aug 9, 1991 | Bruce Seldon | Win | KO | 1 (10), 1:48 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 27 | Oct 29, 1991 | Elijah Tillery | Win | DQ | 1 (12) | Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C., U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title; Tillery disqualified for kicking |
| 28 | Dec 13, 1991 | Elijah Tillery | Win | TKO | 4 (10), 1:14 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 29 | Apr 7, 1992 | Conroy Nelson | Win | KO | 1 (10), 1:16 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 30 | May 8, 1992 | Everett Martin | Win | TKO | 5 (10), 2:28 | Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. |
| 31 | Jul 18, 1992 | Pierre Coetzer | Win | TKO | 7 (12), 2:59 | The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 32 | Nov 13, 1992 | Evander Holyfield | Win | UD | 12 | Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles |
| 33 | Feb 6, 1993 | Michael Dokes | Win | TKO | 1 (12), 2:19 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA and IBF heavyweight titles |
| 34 | May 22, 1993 | Jesse Ferguson | Win | KO | 2 (12), 0:17 | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C., U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA heavyweight title |
| 35 | Nov 6, 1993 | Evander Holyfield | Loss | MD | 12 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Lost WBA and IBF heavyweight titles |
| 36 | Aug 13, 1994 | Buster Mathis Jr. | NC | NC | 4 (10), 2:11 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — Mathis Jr. unable to continue after a Bowe foul |
| 37 | Dec 3, 1994 | Larry Donald | Win | UD | 12 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title |
| 38 | Mar 11, 1995 | Herbie Hide | Win | KO | 6 (12), 2:25 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won WBO heavyweight title |
| 39 | Jun 17, 1995 | Jorge Luis González | Win | KO | 6 (12), 1:50 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBO heavyweight title |
| 40 | Nov 4, 1995 | Evander Holyfield | Win | TKO | 8 (12), 0:58 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 41 | Jul 11, 1996 | Andrew Golota | Win | DQ | 7 (12), 2:37 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. — Golota disqualified for repeated low blows |
| 42 | Dec 14, 1996 | Andrew Golota | Win | DQ | 9 (10), 2:58 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — Golota disqualified for repeated low blows |
| 43 | Sep 25, 2004 | Marcus Rhode | Win | TKO | 2 (10), 2:45 | Fire Lake Casino, Shawnee, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| 44 | Apr 7, 2005 | Billy Zumbrun | Win | SD | 10 | Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, U.S. |
| 45 | Dec 13, 2008 | Gene Pukall | Win | UD | 8 | SAP Arena, Mannheim, Germany |
Titles & notes
Major title reigns (start–end): WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight titles November 13, 1992 – November 6, 1993 (won from Evander Holyfield; the February 6, 1993 defense against Michael Dokes carried the WBA and IBF titles and the May 22, 1993 defense against Jesse Ferguson the WBA title, per the bout table; lost the WBA and IBF titles back to Holyfield); WBO heavyweight title March 11, 1995 – 1996 (won from Herbie Hide; defended against Jorge Luis González, per the bout table) — all dates per the bout table
- Oct 29, 1991 vs Elijah Tillery: Won vacant WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title; Tillery disqualified for kicking
- Nov 13, 1992 vs Evander Holyfield: Won WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles
- Feb 6, 1993 vs Michael Dokes: Retained WBA and IBF heavyweight titles
- May 22, 1993 vs Jesse Ferguson: Retained WBA heavyweight title
- Nov 6, 1993 vs Evander Holyfield: Lost WBA and IBF heavyweight titles
- Dec 3, 1994 vs Larry Donald: Won WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title
- Mar 11, 1995 vs Herbie Hide: Won WBO heavyweight title
- Jun 17, 1995 vs Jorge Luis González: Retained WBO heavyweight title
Photo: SPC Michael Halgren, U.S. Army via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain). Featured image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/RiddickBowe.jpg?utm_source=en.wikipedia.org&utm_campaign=api&utm_content=original
Record source: Wikipedia professional boxing record table (cross-checked against the bout list), retrieved 2026-11-02.
