The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Former amateur boxing president Vincent Strachan said it was a pleasure for the boxing community to meet and interact with former two-time world heavyweight champion Riddick 'Big Daddy' Bowe and his I Fight Promotions Group.

During a visit to the Bahamas this week, Strachan, Ray Minus Jr and Quincy 'Thrill-A-minute' Pratt were among the local boxers who greeted Bowe at a press conference held at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium on Monday.

"Having Big Daddy in town was one of those moments that I was really excited about," Strachan said.

"I felt that it gave boxing somewhat of a new burst of energy.

"Having someone of that calibre, who is a two-time world heavyweight boxing champion, was a real treat for us, especially because he told us that his father was a Bahamian and that makes him an American-Bahamian."

While they had a chance to chat at length, Strachan said Bowe has consented to assist the Bahamas with their amateur boxing programme and getting more amateur boxers to excel in the sport.

"It made me feel proud to be a Bahamian and I'm looking forward to working with their group because they have a lot of plans and we want to cause some positive things to happen for boxing in the Bahamas," Strachan pointed out.

"With the number of persons interested in coming here to assist like Evander Holyfield, Ironman Mike Tyson, Sugar Shane Moseley, Roger Mayweather, Floyd Mayweather - a whole lot of persons are excited about coming to the Bahamas to help the programme."

Strachan, who is embattled in an election bid to become the new president of the Bahamas Amateur Boxing Federation, said he hopes that he can assist the I Fight Promotions Group.

"It's a win-win situation for the Bahamas and for the boxing community on a whole," Strachan said.

Bowe, 51, won the silver medal at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea. The 6-feet, 5-inch heavyweight turned pro the following year and went on a 34-0 winning streak, earning the undisputed WBA, WBC and IBF world championship titles over Evander Holyfield in 1992.

After he vacated the WBC title later that year by refusing to fight Lennox Lewis, Bowe was beaten by Holyfield in a rematch in 1993 where he suffered his only loss and both the WBA and IBF titles.

In 1995, Bowe defeated Herbie Hide to regain the WBO title and become the first boxer to hold all of the titles in all four major boxing organisations.

He is still the only heavyweight to accomplish such a feat.

It came during a streak of nine victories that culminated with his retirement on December 13, 2008. His final bout was a unanimous decision over Gene Pukall.

Bowe had a win-loss-draw career record of 43-1-0.

He was ranked as the 21st greatest heavyweight of all time and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2015.