Riddick Bowe vs. Pierre Coetzer

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Riddick Bowe vs. Pierre Coetzer — July 18, 1992

The fight took place at The Mirage in Paradise, Nevada. It was an eliminator for the WBA heavyweight title (and an IBF slot for the winner), with the plan for the victor to face Evander Holyfield later in the year. The card’s main event was Rafael Pineda vs. Pernell Whitaker for the IBF junior welterweight title, but Bowe–Coetzer was the featured heavyweight bout.

Bowe, 24 and undefeated, was seen as a rising star from Brooklyn. Coetzer, 30, was a tough challenger from South Africa. Both fighters were orthodox. The battle was a nonstop slugfest, with Bowe taking the initiative and landing harder punches. He opened cuts on Coetzer and bruised his face as the rounds wore on.

By the seventh round, Bowe led on all scorecards. The round ended in controversy when Bowe connected with a right hand that appeared to be a low blow as Coetzer lowered his guard. Referee Mills Lane did not deduct a point, and Bowe followed with more punches, prompting Lane to stop the fight with one second left in the round.

Bowe’s win moved him closer to a title shot with Holyfield, who had already beaten Larry Holmes to set up the potential unification.