Riddick Bowe 247 lbs fought without result Buster Mathis Jr 224 lbs by NC at 2:11 in round 4 of 10
Date: 1994-08-13
Location: Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA.
Bowe had little trouble with the outmatched Mathis, easily out-boxing him throughout the first 3 rounds. However, the fight ended in controversy in round four. With around a minute left in the round, Bowe hurt Mathis with a series of power punches, causing Mathis to take a knee in order to take a break. However, just after Mathis took the knee, Bowe landed a strong right hook that briefly knocked Mathis unconscious. Feeling that Mathis was in no shape to continue after the foul, referee Arthur Mercante Sr. immediately stopped the fight, though no decision was announced. Mercante and New Jersey State Athletic Control Board head Larry Hazzard would then have discussion in regards to whether the decision should be a disqualification victory for Mathis, a knockout victory for Bowe, if they should go to the judges scorecards and award whomever was ahead a victory by technical decision or declare the fight either a technical draw or no contest. After nearly 20 minutes of deliberation, the fight was finally declared a no contest. Bowe apologized for the foul stating that he could not tell that Mathis, who used a crouching stance and was five inches shorter than Bowe, had taken a knee
