Riddick Bowe is a former world heavyweight champion and has wins over some of the greatest names in the sport.
The first man to defeat one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, Evander Holyfield, Bowe is a two-time champion of the division.
Making his debut in 1989, Bowe would compete up until 2008 and retire with a professional record of 43-1.
Although Bowe is best known for his incredible trilogy with Holyfield and a bizarre hand-gliding incident, one of ‘Big Daddy’s’ craziest fights came the year before he first met ‘The Real Deal’.
Riddick Bowe vs Elijah Tillery ended in an all-out brawl
Bowe went into his 1991 bout with Elijah Tillery with a perfect 26-0 record, while his opponent had a record of 23-4. The two would compete for WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight title.
Going into the bout as the favored fighter, Bowe looked sharp in the opening round and was clearly getting the better of Tillery.
Towards the end of the round, a left hook against the ropes would put Tillery down. However, he would recover to make the count and continue the fight.
The round would end just as the action resumed. However, when Tillery blew a kiss at Bowe, the undefeated fighter fired a jab out at his opponent after the bell.
Rowe’s late punch would cause Tillery to react by throwing a kick at his opponent before a fight broke out between the pair.
As the two were clashing, a Bowe’s manager grabbed Tillery and dragged him to the other side of the ropes.
The fight was called off immediately, with Tillery being disqualified due to the kicks that he threw at Bowe.
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Riddick Bowe would rematch Elijah Tillery two months later
Although Bowe was officially declared the winner of the bout against Tillery, the two would still have an immediate rematch.
Meeting in December of 1991, the two would fight in the Convention Hall in Atlantic City.
However, the victor would be the same in their sequel meeting.
Bowe would earn himself a fourth-round TKO victory, extending his record to 28-0. The following year, he would defeat Holyfield to become the IBF and WBC World Heavyweight champion of the world.
As for Tillery, he would step into the ring just once more before hanging up his gloves. A TKO loss in his final fight would see him retire with a professional record of 23-7.