Riddick Bowe vs. Jesse Ferguson

Riddick Bowe vs. Jesse Ferguson, billed as "The Heavyweight Debate", was a professional boxing match contested on May 22, 1993, for the WBA and Lineal Heavyweight championships.[1] The fight took place in RFK Stadium in Washington, DC, was Bowe's second defense of the title he had won from Evander Holyfield in November 1992, and was the main event of a card that included a fight between Roy Jones Jr. and Bernard Hopkins for the vacant IBF middleweight championship, which Jones won.

The Heavyweight Debate
DateMay 22, 1993
VenueRFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
Title(s) on the lineWBA and Lineal Heavyweight Championships
Tale of the tape
Boxer United States Riddick Bowe United States Jesse Ferguson
Nickname "Big Daddy" "The Boogieman"
Hometown Brooklyn, New York Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Purse $7,000,000 $500,000
Pre-fight record 33–0 (28 KO) 19–9 (13 KO)
Age 25 years, 9 months 36 years, 2 months
Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 244 lb (111 kg) 224 lb (102 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition WBA, IBF and Lineal
Heavyweight Champion
WBA
No. 12 Ranked Heavyweight
Result
Bowe defeated Ferguson via 2nd round knockout

Background

edit

Since winning what was then the undisputed world heavyweight championship from Evander Holyfield in November 1992, Bowe had made one title defense. That came in February 1993 in a fight against former champion Michael Dokes, whom he knocked out in the first round to retain the WBA, IBF, and lineal championships he still held (he was forced to relinquish the WBC championship after refusing to defend against their number one contender, Lennox Lewis).

Ferguson, meanwhile, had largely been a journeyman fighter over the course of his career. His resume featured bouts against a series of former and future champions, but he had never once fought for a world title and had been defeated nine times when he entered a bout with 1988 Olympic gold medalist and rising contender Ray Mercer on the same night Bowe fought Dokes. Despite being a significant underdog, Ferguson outboxed Mercer and won a decision victory. [2]

Bowe, who had been seeking a fight with Mercer, instead chose to make his next defense against Ferguson. However, the IBF did not have Ferguson in its contender rankings and refused to allow Bowe to defend their title against him; therefore, when the bout was signed, only the WBA and lineal championships were placed at stake. [3] Despite his limited success and his status as a 40-1 underdog, Ferguson remained confident that he could defeat Bowe, vowing to get the victory by knockout. Bowe responded to Ferguson's claims by calling him a "knucklehead" while also threatening to "punish" his competitor.[4]

Bowe was a 40-1 favourite on fight night.

The Fights

edit

Jones Jr. vs. Hopkins

edit
The Heavyweight Debate: Roy Jones Jr. vs. Bernard Hopkins
Title(s) on the lineIBF Middleweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer   Roy Jones Jr.   Bernard Hopkins
Nickname "Junior" "The Executioner"
Hometown Pensacola, Florida Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pre-fight record 21–0 (20 KO) 22–1 (15 KO)
Age 24 years, 4 months 28 years, 4 months
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 159+12 lb (72 kg) 159 lb (72 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition IBF
No. 2 Ranked Middleweight
IBF
No. 1 Ranked Middleweight
Result
Jones Jr. wins via 12-round unanimous decision (116-112, 116-112, 116-112)

In the chief support, 1988 Olympics Silver medalist Roy Jones Jr. faced Bernard Hopkins for the IBF middleweight belt vacated by James Toney following his victory over Iran Barkley to win the IBF super middleweight title in February.[5]

Both fighters were appearing in their first world title bout.

Gil Clancy on the HBO broadcast would some up the match up by saying "Bernard Hopkins is by far the best boxer and puncher Roy Jones has fought, but conversely, Roy is the most talented boxer Bernard Hopkins has ever fought."[6]

The fight

edit

Jones would prove too fast and too strong for Hopkins, largely controlling the action with his speed and unorthodox style. The more orthodox Hopkins would have some success whenever he backed Jones to the ropes, but these were sporadic and brief.

At the end of 12 rounds all three judges would score the bout 116–112 in favour of Jones, giving him a unanimous decision victory. Unofficial HBO scorer Harold Lederman scored it 118–110 and Boxing Illustrated had 117–111 both for Jones.

Jones landed 206 of 594 punches (35%) while Hopkins connected on 153 of 670 (23%).

Aftermath

edit

Speaking to Larry Merchant after the bout Jones said "I was very tight coming into the fight, I had so much build-up on me. Being like I am, I kind of expected that, but I thank God I made it through that one and it won’t happen no more. That was my first title and that was that."

Jones would claim he had entered the bout with a broken right hand.[7]

The two would have a rematch 17 years later at Light Heavyweight, where Hopkins would avenge his defeat with a dominant unanimous decision victory of his own.

Preceded by
vs. Glenn Wolfe
Roy Jones Jr.'s bouts
22 May 1993
Succeeded by
Preceded by
vs. Gilbert Baptist
Bernard Hopkins's bouts
22 May 1993
Succeeded by
vs. Roy Ritchie

Main Event

edit

Much like in his previous fight, Bowe was able to dominate the entire duration of the fight. Bowe was the aggressor from the opening bell, constantly having Ferguson on the defensive throughout the first round by effectively using his left jab. With less than 30 seconds left in the round, a left hook from Bowe sent Ferguson back into the ropes which led to Bowe landing another left hook 10 seconds later that dropped Ferguson to the canvas. Ferguson barely was able to answer the referee's 10 count, just managing to get up at the count of nine as the round ended. Only seconds into round 2, Bowe was able to land an 8-punch combination that again sent Ferguson to the mat. This time Ferguson was unable to get up and Bowe was announced the winner by knockout.[8]

Aftermath

edit

After Bowe's two successful title defenses over marginal competition, the much anticipated Bowe–Holyfield rematch was announced to take place on November 6, 1993. Like the previous fight, the two fighters again went the full 12 rounds, this time though, it was Holyfield who would earn the victory, becoming the only man to defeat Bowe in his professional career.

Undercard

edit

Confirmed bouts:[9]

Winner Loser Weight division/title belt(s) disputed Result
  Roy Jones Jr.   Bernard Hopkins vacant IBF middleweight title 12th round Unanimous decision
Non-TV bouts
  Egerton Marcus   Andrew Maynard NABF Light Heavyweight Title 8th round RTD.
  Sharmba Mitchell   Kenny Baysmore Catchweight (10 rounds) 1st round KO.
  George Scott   John Stewart Welterweight (8 rounds) Unanimous decision.
  Jorge Luis Gonzalez   Dwayne Hall Heavyweight (8 rounds) 1st round TKO.
  Shannon Briggs   Bruce Johnson Heavyweight (6 rounds) 1st round TKO.
  Ben Simmons   Anthony Hardy Super Featherweight (4 rounds) Majority decision.

Broadcasting

edit
Country Broadcaster
  Mexico Televisa
  United Kingdom ITV[10]
  United States HBO

References

edit
  1. ^ "Riddick Bowe vs. Jesse Ferguson". boxrec.com. BoxRec. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  2. ^ Bowe Brings Title Show To D.C., Chicago Tribune article, 1993-03-25, Retrieved on 2013-05-17
  3. ^ Chesseburger, Cheeseburger for Bowe, N.Y. Times article, 1993-04-21, Retrieved on 2013-05-17
  4. ^ Riddick Bowe Says Jesse Ferguson Hasn't Long To Live. The Challenger Says Otherwise., Philadelphia Inquirer article, 1993-04-22, Retrieved on 2013-05-17
  5. ^ "Roy Jones Jr. vs. Bernard Hopkins (1st meeting)". boxrec.com. BoxRec. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  6. ^ Elliot Worsell (4 April 2022). "Editor's Pick: The unconventional rivalry of Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins". boxingnewsonline.net. iD Sports Media. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  7. ^ Mark Vester (30 September 2009). "Roy Jones Jr: "I Beat Bernard Hopkins With One Hand"". boxingscene.com. Boxing Scene. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  8. ^ Riddick Bowe, Sports Illustrated article, 1993-04-31, Retrieved on 2013-05-17
  9. ^ "BoxRec: Event".
  10. ^ "The Big Fight Live:WBA World Heavyweight Championship: Riddick Bowe vs. Jesse Ferguson". imdb.com. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
Preceded by Riddick Bowe's bouts
22 May 1993
Succeeded by
Preceded by Jesse Ferguson's bouts
22 May 1993
Succeeded by
vs. Rocky Pepeli