31 years ago

Date: 6th November 1993

Venue: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada

Title: WBA & IBF World Heavyweight Titles

Promoter: Main Events, Rock Newman

Tv: TVKO PPV

Riddick Bowe
( 34 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 246 lbs

Evander Holyfield
( 29 - 1 - 0 )
Weight: 217 lbs

The second meeting between Riddick Bowe and Evander Holyfield on November 6, 1993, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, was a highly anticipated rematch following their epic first encounter. This bout saw Holyfield coming in at 217 lbs and Bowe heavier at 246 lbs. The match concluded with Holyfield winning by a majority decision, with judges' scorecards reading 115-113, 114-114, and 115-114 favour of Holyfield. This victory marked Holyfield's return to the pinnacle of the heavyweight division, reclaiming the WBA and IBF World Heavyweight Titles.

Bowe was considered the favourite leading up to the rematch, with odds initially at 5-1, eventually narrowing to 2½-1. The financial stakes were high, with Bowe guaranteed $11 million and Holyfield $9 million, reflecting the magnitude and drawing power of the bout. The fight attracted significant attention, generating 950,000 pay-per-view buys and a live gate of $5,792,838.50 from a crowd of 14,292 spectators.

Holyfield, trained by Emanuel Steward for their final fight together due to a subsequent financial disagreement, executed a strategic and effective game plan. Despite Bowe landing a higher percentage of punches (353 of 786 for 45 percent) than Holyfield's 253 of 514 (49 percent), Holyfield's resilience and tactical prowess shone through, particularly in the later rounds.

A bizarre and unexpected incident occurred during the seventh round when James Miller, known as "Fan Man," disrupted the bout by crashing into the ring on a motorised paraglider. The interruption caused a 21-minute delay, after which the fight resumed. The incident was so unprecedented that it was named The Ring Event of the Year for 1993.

After the resumption, the fight continued to be competitive, with Holyfield demonstrating his championship mettle by adjusting his strategy and rallying in the critical moments. The judges' scores reflected the closely contested nature of the bout, with Holyfield narrowly edging out Bowe to secure the majority decision victory.

The rematch between Bowe and Holyfield solidified their rivalry as one of the most memorable in heavyweight boxing history. It showcased Holyfield's ability to overcome adversity and reclaim his status as a heavyweight champion. Holyfield's victory made him only the third man to regain the heavyweight championship from the man who had taken it from him, joining the ranks of Floyd Patterson and Muhammad Ali.