Riddick Bowe is a retired professional boxer from the United States of America. He won his first WBA, WBC, and IBF in 1992 and is also a heavyweight champion. Riddick has a net worth of $30 thousand. This is due to several financial problems throughout his career.
Riddick Bowe Career
Riddick is well known for being a professional boxer and kickboxer from 1989 to 2016. He won the WBA in 1992 and defeated Evander Holyfield in WBC and IBF earning him the tittle ‘Fighter of the Year’ by The Ring magazine and Boxers association. He was developed by his trainer Eddie Futch.
His first professional match was in 1989 and he knocked out Lionel Butler. He knocked out 1984 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist Tyrell Biggs in 1991.
In 1995, he defeated Herbie Hide in the heavy world championship for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) title. He became the first boxer to win all four titles at once, the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO. He was ridiculed for relinquishing the WBC title instead of defending it against Lennox Lewis.
Riddick retired after a controversial fight with Andrew Goleta who hit him with low blows in two matches. He decided to join the United States Marine Corps Reserve and dedicate his life to training vowing to return to boxing afterward. He arrived in February 1997 but after three days of heavy physical training, he quit.
He however tried to make a comeback in 2004 and in 2008 with the help of his manager Bob Bain he returned to the ring and won over Gene Pukall in world heavyweight title. Bowe was knocked down from kicks to his legs five times in 2013 June resulting in the match being called of half way.
In 2015, Bowe joined the International Boxing Hall of Fame and was still ranked the 21st greatest heavyweight in 2010.
Financial Problems
Throughout his career, Riddick Bowe made approximately $80 million. When he first retired, he had $15 million cash in the bank and this was in the 1990s.When he tried making a comeback in 2008, he was not doing well financially and would attend flea markets to make money from autographs. Riddick later claimed that one of his managers stole close to $15 million from him leaving him with major financial problems.
Early Life
Riddick Bowe was born on 10th August 1967 in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in New York’s toughest slums as the twelfth child with thirteen siblings. He grew up with her mother Dorothy Bowe but unfortunately lost his brother to AIDS and her sister to stab wounds after an attempted robbery.
He went to Kingsborough Community College to study drama and business administration. He started boxing at an early age and in 1984, at 17 he knocked out James Smith. He won a silver medal in 1988 after participating in the Seoul Olympics. In 1985 he won the New York Golden Gloves Championship and he won this category till 1988.
Bowe was convicted in 1998 for kidnapping his wife and five children threatening her with a knife, duct tape, and handcuffs. His defense however claimed he had brain damage and was released after 30 days. He also served 17 months in federal prison for domestic abuse.
