[1] Riddick Bowe had lost his previous fight on November 6, 1993, to Evander Holyfield for the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles.

[2] With his one-year reign as champion over, Bowe's first comeback fight was announced the following month to take place on February 5, 1994, against Francois Botha.

[3] However, only a month later, Bowe, while training for the fight, suffered a cut above his left eye that required 10 stitches leading to the bout to be officially cancelled.

The fight was finally confirmed for August 13 after medication and working with fitness guru Mackie Shilstone helped Bowe recover from his injury.

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.