Riddick Bowe Interview: Heavyweight Champion Says He Was Drugged By His Corner During The Golota Rematch
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
* Photo Credit: Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media
In a Real Combat Media international interview exclusive, former World Heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe speaking out for the very first time about certain incidents related to his December 14, 1996 rematch with Andrew Golota at the Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey, claimed his handlers drugged him before the match so he would lose, and stated he was forced out of his $100 million television contract into retirement.
Opinions expressed in this interview are solely the viewpoint of Riddick Bowe, and are not the opinions of this reporter or Real Combat Media. Neither Riddick Bowe’s manager Rock Newman, nor any television network Bowe fought for, have been accused in court of wrongdoing where Bowe was concerned. Bowe stated in the interview he did not sue Newman despite their differences. The July 11, 1996 in the ring riot bawl at Madison Square Garden between Bowe and his corner, and Golota and his corner, cost Bowe one million of his five million dollar purse. The post-fight riot got rival managers Rock Newman and Lou Duva temporarily suspended by the New York State Athletic Commission.
Bower was interviewed after midnight on Thursday July 30, 2015, at Caffe Dragone, a former boxing gym converted into a bar in Yonkers, New York, by former boxing trainer A.D. Dragone. The interview was held late, after the boxing card at Empire City Casino Yonkers Raceway earlier in the evening, which Bowe attended with friend Michael Bentt.
The statute of limitations has long expired, and Bowe’s criticisms of ex-manager Rock Newman and his television network contract come long after the fact. However, Bowe, more reclusive in recent years, came out of the shadows for this rare one on one exclusive interview, because he wants the general public to fully understand what happened to him preceding his second bout with Andrew Golota, his last appearance in the boxing limelight. Some sports experts say his second bout with Andrew Golota and its aftermath caused Bowe his ruination despite the victory, in effect ending his income and his boxing career.
Robert Brizel: “What happened, Bowe, before your second bout with Andrew Golota?”
Riddick Bowe: “When I was walking to the ring, a guy named ‘Brother Bay’ (in my corner) put pills in my mouth on the way into the ring! I do not know his real name. He was working with me, training me for the past three months. I was thinking he was a member of my team, and a good guy. My training camp for the second Golota fight was in upstate New York. Brother Bay gave me vitamins and everything to feel good in training camp. It was one of my better training camp.”
Robert Brizel: “When you got into the ring for the rematch with Andrew Golota in Atlantic City, what happened?”
Riddick Bowe: “I was feeling weak from the beginning, once (after) Brother Bay gave me what he gave me (the pills as I was walking to the ring). What he did not count on was my heart. Whatever he gave me, I was not gonna give up. I was not going to lay down or stop (fighting). I basically stayed in there and won the fight. Andrew Golota was disqualified.”
Robert Brizel: “Bowe, qualify your take on what happened to you.”
Riddick Bowe: “That being said, I believe-and I know for a fact-my manager Rock Newman wanted to get rid of me because he made an exclusive deal with a TV network. I had a hundred million dollars on the table. He (Newman) must have told the TV network, I have got a way to get you guys out of the contract (with Bowe). Look at the videotape. People know me. When I come to fight, I fight. I work hard for the whole fight. I was weak for the fight.”
Robert Brizel: “And of your permanent distrust for your ex-manager, Rock Newman?”
Riddick Bowe: “I have not seen Rock Newman in over 15 years. He went to court and testified against me. I was beside myself. I could not believe it. He was my best friend, my confidante, someone I would die for.”
Robert Brizel: “Did Rock Newman cause you to go to jail?”
Riddick Bowe: “For 18 months. What happened was the TV network did not want to pay the (my contractually obliged) money. So Newman took it upon himself (to find a way) to get me out of my contract. He went to court and testified against me. Newman, my ex-wife, and everybody conspired against me.”
Robert Brizel: “Tell me about the pain you experienced due to all of this.”
Riddick Bowe: “One hundred million dollars of pain! That’s three fights. I had gotten 10 million per fight for three fights. I had three fights left on that contract, so I had 70 million dollars left (still to be earned by me in my contract when my contract got voided improperly somehow).”
Robert Brizel: “Is there money missing which you did earn?”
Riddick Bowe: “Rock Newman has all of his money in the bank and his radio station. I was supposed to make ten million a fight (for the fights I had). I only got three million. He (Rock Newman) must have taken seven million (of my money). The only good thing was I had no tax problems. Newman handled it. He did everything.”
Robert Brizel: “Did you ever sue Rock Newman over your missing income, or in regards to your 100 million dollar contract. Clarify this situation.”
Riddick Bowe: “All my taxes were paid. I never sued Rock Newman. I was gonna sue Rock Newman, but he came (to me) and said to me ‘f you dropped the intended lawsuit, I will get you more fights’ so I let everything (my intention to sue him) go. He (Rock Newman) knew once I dropped it (the lawsuit plan) I could not go back and do it again. That’s how he (Newman) got around it (being taken to court by me).”
Robert Brizel: “You claim you were drugged by your corner, and set up to lose going into the second Andrew Golota fight. As best as you can remember, please explain how the events unfolded and exactly what happened to you after you entered the ring, on December 14, 1996. Your second fight with Golota remains historically more obscure than your first fight with Golota, which caused the famed television riot. How did it go the second time?”
Riddick Bowe: “The thing was, I saw Andrew Golota’s jabs coming at me, and I saw his left hooks. I would (normally) slip them, but I could not do that because my motor skills were impaired because I had been drugged. I won the second bout with Andrew Golota by disqualification (again), so the TV network was still in hot water. So Newman convinced me to retire, and do the 18 months in jail, which freed the TV network from my contract.”
Robert Brizel: “Did Rock Newman get paid off to void your contract and dump you?”
Riddick Bowe: “Yeah. He screwed me and testified against me. It’s rumored the TV network paid him five million to ten million dollars. Duh. That’s very good.”
Reader’s Note: The money Bowe refers to here could simply be all or part of Rock Newman’s managerial cut of Bowe’s earnings per televised cut. Given the passage of time, almost 20 years ago, it would be impossible to prove otherwise in terms of how Newman was paid and exactly for what. If contracts existed, Bowe does not remember signing them.
Robert Brizel: “Did you have a valid contract for your television bouts?”
Riddick Bowe: “I never saw contracts for my bouts. I did not sign anything which I can recall. Out of ten million dollars guaranteed for each televised world heavyweight title bout I was supposed to get (clear after Newman), I got only three million dollars per bout.”
Robert Brizel: “You subsequently divorced, left your children with your ex-wife, remarried, and started a new family. Where did you live after all was said and done?”
Riddick Bowe: “I moved my family from Brooklyn to Fort Washington, Maryland, and then to Florida. I haven’t found a place to live where I wanted to be. I want to come back home to Yonkers, New York.”
Robert Brizel: “Can you please break down how your ring money was getting distributed when you were fighting.”
Riddick Bowe: “I got three million. Rock Newman was getting a third (of whatever I earned), and my trainer received ten percent. At ten million (per bout, at that point) the trainer got one million, or ten percent. Out of ten million, the manager got one third. I paid the taxes on the whole ten million. I was supposed to get five million, sixty five thousand per bout. I got shorted two million and sixty five thousand. He in three fights, Newman got his amount times three. Before this (before my world heavyweight title mega payday bouts took place), who knows how much money he beat me for (took which he was not supposed to), all the damn contracts and fights I had? You see how much money he beat me out of? All I want is my money back. Do you think I’ll ever see it? I’m hoping. I’m hoping to get my money back.”
Robert Brizel: “You want to see your money again, money you claim Rock Newman improperly took. You would have to deal with him. Do you want to see Newman again?”
Riddick Bowe: “I don’t care. I don’t want to see him (ever again my lifetime).”
Robert Brizel: “Bowe, what was the bottom line? What did Rock Newman do to you in an emotional sense which has affected you to this day?”
Riddick Bowe: “Rock Newman took my heart and broke it. I loved this dude. He (Rock Newman) destroyed me (inside).”
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