By Scoop Malinowski

Back in the early 1990’s all the boxing experts knew 1988 Olympic super heavyweight silver medalist Riddick Bowe was something special. With his uncanny talents for such a big man combined with his outgoing, charismatic personality, everyone believed the big kid from Brownsville was one of those “can’t miss” prospects. And Bowe lived up to the great expectations by winning the undisputed heavyweight title against Evander Holyfield in 1992 at the age of 25.

Big Daddy took time out recently to discuss and reminisce about the long and arduous quest of attaining the most richest, most prestigious title in all of sports:

Boxinginsider.com: When in your life did you first realize you actually could become the heavyweight champion of the world? When did that idea first enter your mind?

Riddick Bowe: “Well I remember it was the second I heard Muhammad Ali speak. See, what happened was, I was in junior high school - I was in 8th grade, I was 13 years old - and the reading teacher brought in a tape of Ali. And I just fell in love with Ali from that point on. I said, I wanna be heavyweight champion of the world. And in about ten years later it took place and it happened.”

Boxinginsider.com: Once you first started boxing, when did you really realize, Hey I really could be heavyweight champ?

Riddick Bowe: “What happened was the reading teacher, she called around a couple of gyms so I could start boxing. So we finally decided to go to Bed-Stuy Boxing Association Club. And I walked into the gym, fought in the Kid Gloves, the Golden Gloves, the Junior Olympics, and I realized in that time I could be champ. Because I did feel a certain ease, you know? A lot of guys had a lot more experience than I had but I was beatin’ up all them guys like I was there the whole time they were.”

Boxinginsider.com: Who was the very first real boxing person who affirmed your self-belief, who actually told you that you could be champ? Do you remember?

Riddick Bowe: “Absolutely. Paul Brennan. I will never forget him. I fought him four times. Paul Brennan beat me in my first fight as an amateur, by decision. At about 14. I fought him again. Paul beat me again. We didn’t fight again for about 2-3 years. But I kept Paul in my mind because I owed him one. Then we fought in the Junior Olympics and I knocked Paul out in the first round. Then I fought him again in the Golden Gloves. Paul knocked me down in the first round. I had to get up for the championship, and I had to knock Paul out. I did what I had to do.”

Boxinginsider.com: Paul told you that you could be heavyweight champion someday?

Riddick Bowe: “Absolutely. Unequivocally. After I won the New York City Golden Gloves I knew I would be champion. Because I felt like that was the hardest tournament I could ever participate in.”

Boxinginsider.com: Going into the first Holyfield fight, was there ever any doubt? There had to be a little bit of doubt that was there…

Riddick Bowe: “No, I never ever felt like that - you’re gonna fail. So you always have to think positive. So that’s how I always thought. I can beat these guys, I’m the best out there. And I still feel that way today. They’re holding your minds…I mean a lot of people try to make you feel less than what you are. But to be king, you need to hold a grudge…so you can be what you need to be.”

Boxinginsider.com: Holyfield was the warrior, a tough, tough, tough guy. When did you first see defeat, did you ever see defeat in his face? I mean, he put up a helluva fight. When do you think he realized he wasn’t gonna be able to defeat you?

Riddick Bowe: “He realized that around the 8th round. Because he felt like, at that point, I was…because I was so big, being a big guy with a lot of quickness, had his, whatever the case may be, I think he realized late in the fight that he was a beat man. And remember, I was winning seven rounds to one. He won the first round, everything else I won. So he knew then, I think, that he was defeated. The thing about boxing is, guys try to break your spirit. That’s what I was looking for. They try to break your spirit. But that never happened with me.”

Boxinginsider.com: You felt you broke his spirit?

Riddick Bowe: “Absolutely. And he even attested to it after the fight. He said, Bowe beat me from pillar to post. His exact words. I broke him down. Systematically. Holyfield never had any idea I would go down to his body, then back up to his head. A lot of things I did. I thought that he thought that as the type of person I was, break down or whatever, but it never happened.”

Boxinginsider.com: Thank you very much Riddick this was awesome.

Riddick Bowe: “God Bless you, be good.”