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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Bowe Wins By Dq, But Main Event A Riot

Philadelphia Inquirer

A riot that spread from the ring into the crowd of 11,252 like wildfire and lasted almost 30 minutes overshadowed what had been a rousing heavyweight fight Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

The post-fight battle royal started almost immediately after former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe, behind most of the fight, was declared the winner when 12-1 underdog Andrew Golota was disqualified for consistently hitting below the belt.

The end came 27 seconds into the seventh round, after Bowe was put down for the third time by low blows. Golota, warned repeatedly and penalized three times, then engaged in a second fight after he walked defiantly to his corner.

It wasn’t clear who started the post-bout fray, but Golota stood back in his corner taking on all comers as the ring filled with cornermen, and then fans. At one point, he was pounded in the head with a walkie-talkie.

Several minutes into the riot, Bowe, who had fallen in pain, was on his back trying to ward off the stampede. One fight grew into another, and soon the ring bulged with hysterical people.

It was several minutes before nightstick wielding policemen got to the ring, but even then the fighting continued, spreading to the floor. One fight broke out directly behind Bowe’s wife, mother and five children, seated at ringside.

Lou Duva, Golota’s 74-year-old trainer, was carried from the ring after he was hit by a walkie-talkie. An oxygen mask was on his face while he was removed by stretcher. He was reportedly OK.

Andrew Bazos, the Garden physician, said there were no major injuries and 12 minor ones. A police spokesman said six officers had been injured. Ten arrests were made.

Thirty-five minutes after the bout, Garden authorities ordered the crowd to evacuate the building. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani appeared at the Garden but did not answer questions.