By Rick Reeno
Earlier tonight in the Pechanga Resort and Casino in California, former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe (42-1-33K) gained the second win of his comeback in less then spectacular fashion over Billy Zumbrun by way of a 10 round split decision. Zumbrun is a journeyman fighter with a 18-6-1-10K record. Judges David Denkin and Lou Filippo had identical 96-92 scores for Bowe and Ray Corona had Zumbrun winning 95-93. Zumbrun lost a point in the eighth round for roughhouse tactics.
Bowe was probably close to 300 pounds once he stepped in the ring, Bowe had a 54 pound weight advantage over Zumbrun coming into the bout, 5 1/2 inches more in height, much more ring experience and a sizeable reach advantage as well. None of this mattered as a simple journeyman took Bowe to school in several rounds and captured the heart of the crowd by stunning Bowe with hard right hands in several rounds of the bout.
The only knockdown of the bout came when Bowe landed a hard left to the body of Zumbrun. Zunbrum was able to survive the knockdown and made a comeback by landing some bombs of his own down the stretch. Zumbrun had Bowe in trouble in the fifth round when he caught Bowe with an overhand right and turned the entire crowd in his favor as the fight went on. Once the decision was read, the fans booed in order to show their displeasure with the scoring.
Tonight's fight showed that Bowe is nowhere near the same type of fighter that he was years ago. The guy has money, he should really retire before someone seriously injures him.
On the undercard, 2004 Olympic gold medalist and hot prospect Andre Ward won his third pro bout by way of a third round disqualification. His opponent Roy Ashworth (3-2) was using roughhouse tactics throughout the short contest, he repeatedly hit Ward on the break. Ashworth hit Ward on the break at the end of the third round and the ref had seen enough. He disqualified Ashworth and Ward was declared the winner.
Vassiliy Jirov (34-3-30K) in his first bout since getting stopped by former heavyweight champion Michael Moorer, scored a third round stoppage over heavyweight journeyman Forrest Neal (16-6-12K). This bout was basically a one sided affair as Jirov dominated the bout from start to finish. The end came in the third round was Neal was dropped for the second time in the round and in serious danger of getting hurt.
Jirov came into the ring weighing a career high 227 pounds which conflicts reports that he is looking to come back down to the cruiserweight division. Jirov was looked solid and sharp tonight, it appears that he is going to continue to campaign as a heavyweight for the moment.
