'Fan man' crashes heavyweight championship
About this episode
The episode recounts the unusual incident when James Miller parachuted into a heavyweight boxing match, disrupting the event.
In November 1993, James Miller interrupted the highly anticipated world heavyweight championship rematch between Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe. He crashed onto the boxing ring ropes after parachuting into the outdoor arena in Las Vegas. The media dubbed him the "fan man" because of the propeller in a cage strapped to his back. Marc Ratner, who was executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, tells Jen Dale about the bizarre bout. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded. Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the…
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