29 years ago

Date: 4th November 1995

Venue: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada

Title: 12 Round Heavyweight Bout

Promoter: Kathy Duva, Cedric Kushner, Rock Newman

Tv: TVKO PPV

Riddick Bowe
( 37 - 1 - 0 )
Weight: 240 lbs

Evander Holyfield
( 31 - 2 - 0 )
Weight: 213 lbs

The third and final meeting between Riddick Bowe and Evander Holyfield, billed as "The Final Chapter," occurred on November 4, 1995, at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada. This fight ended one of the most memorable trilogies in heavyweight boxing history, with Bowe emerging victorious through an 8th-round technical knockout. This marked the first time Holyfield had been stopped in his illustrious career.

Entering the fight as the WBO champion, Bowe was considered a 3-1 favourite. However, the title was not at stake, as Holyfield chose not to contest for the WBO belt, aiming instead to reclaim the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles. Despite the non-title nature of the bout, the New York Daily News presented a championship belt to the winner, adding a symbolic value to this decisive encounter. Both fighters received substantial guarantees of $8 million for participating in this high-stakes rematch.

The bout was characterised by its intensity and competitiveness, mirroring their previous encounters. Bowe was penalised for a low blow in the fifth round, a moment that coincided with a visible decline in Holyfield's performance, attributed to fatigue from Hepatitis A. Holyfield's condition was so concerning that HBO commentator George Foreman notably called for the fight's stoppage, fearing for Holyfield's safety.

Despite these challenges, Holyfield showcased his resilience by knocking Bowe down for the first time in Bowe's career in the sixth round with a left hook. However, the tide turned decisively in the eighth round when Bowe managed to drop Holyfield twice, prompting referee Joe Cortez to halt the contest. Bowe's victory was not just a testament to his skill and power but also highlighted the sheer brutality of their trilogy, as noted by Bowe's manager, Rock Newman.

The aftermath of "The Final Chapter" led both fighters down divergent paths. Holyfield continued his remarkable comeback journey, achieving greatness by upsetting Mike Tyson and reclaiming the heavyweight championship, solidifying his legacy as a four-time world heavyweight champion. Bowe, on the other hand, faced challenges in securing a bout with Lennox Lewis. After a controversial pair of fights against Andrew Golota, marked by disqualifications for low blows, Bowe briefly retired before making a sporadic return to the ring in the 2000s.

This third bout between Bowe and Holyfield not only concluded one of the sport's most riveting sagas but also left an indelible mark on the history of heavyweight boxing, celebrated for the heart, determination, and skill displayed by both fighters.