The old saying goes "whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas," but that's not entirely true. At least if you're a crazy git who thinks it's a great idea to parachute yourself right into a heavy-weight title fight. Then you're story might travel outside the Nevada state line.

On November 6 1993, Evander Holyfield and Riddic Bowe stepped into Caesars Palace outdoor ring to write the second book in what would become a heavy-weight trilogy. But let's not jump into that madness just yet.

A year earlier, the two had fought in an epic battle in which the two showed tremendous fighting spirit and both Holyfield and Riddic deployed a ludicrously aggressive strategy. Like someone on the ring-side said "If these guys were lawyers they could say, the defence rests." They were just as aggressive as when Homer Simpson was giving casino strategy tips and said "20 - hit!"

Riddic Bowe came out with the victory that time and Holyfield suffered his first defeat. But these pugilists were not done yet.

 

Back to Caesars Palace and the rematch

When they stepped back into the ring a year later, people were expecting another fierce fight. And that was what they got ... for seven rounds and two minutes. Then, what many ranks as the most outrageous sports moment ever, occurred. The outdoorsman, extreme sports enthusiast and business owner James Miller landed with his parachute on the ropes.

He had circulated above the casino for ten minutes before he entered on the boxing scene. And what an entrance it was! The crowd dragged him away from the ropes and started beating him like an outraged medieval mob.

After Miller, or the Fan Man as he is more known, was released from the hospital he said "It was a heavyweight fight, and I was the only guy who got knocked out."

 

How did the story end?

Holyfield won the "Fan Man rematch", and tied the score to 1 -1. However, in 1995 Howe managed to take the lead again with an 8th-round TKO.

Unfortunately, for those who like boxing more than weird stunts, the one who's going to be remembered from the three matches between Holyfield and Bowe is a badly bruised fellow with a parachute.

Copyright: CasinoGuide.com