Steve Gowan, a 3rd-degree black belt, lost a 1986 title fight to altitude sickness after knocking down the world champion. He was stopped by Peter Manfredo in 1990, sparking a gym riot. At 47 with a fractured collarbone, Gowan won a US title fight in three rounds in 2004.
I'm here with Coach Steve Gowan. Steve's one of my closest friends and a mentor to me in terms of life, perseverance, and overcoming obstacles. We're going to talk to Steve Gowan about one of his many one-shot moments.
One-shot moment. 1986, I'd been in martial arts probably since I was 10 years old and had a 3rd-degree black belt at that time. I had been fighting professionally since I was 18. I get a shot at the world title in 1986, Lake Tahoe. I flew up there the day before the fight, didn't think about the altitude.
I'm sorry?
I knocked the world champion down in the first round with a jab. He gets back up and commences to beat me for 5 rounds, and then I couldn't breathe any longer because I was at high altitude. I lost that fight. I go back to the training board, got bucked off the horse, and jumped back on the road again. I trained and I trained and trained. In 1990, I fight for the world title again. Peter Manfredo, Golden Glove boxing champion, world kickboxing champion. And I fight him toe-to-toe 8 rounds. He knocks me down 3 times in the fight. I get back up. 4th time I didn't get back up. He commences to walk over to me after the 4th— after he knocked me down the 4th time and hits me again while I'm on the ground. So there's a whole riot. The whole gym riots. I got 18 guys in the ring slugging it out and they dragged me out by my feet. So, uh, I lost the world title the second time. So what do I do? Got bucked off the horse. I hop back on, ride again. Trained and trained and trained. Uh, then, uh, in, uh, 1990— excuse me, in 2004, 2004, I get a shot at a young guy. I'm 47 and I get a shot at a 30-year-old champion karate fighter and fighting for the US title and I beat him up. And they see the old man beat up a young 30-year-old guy and they go, you know what, this would be a good draw for a world title fight. So From 1990 to 2004, 14 years, no fighting, just training, just training and training champions. You know, at this period of time from 1990 to 2004, at my karate and kickboxing school, I trained 3 national champions, 2 North American champions, 2 world champions, all amateur fighters, and I was their main sparring partner. So during all these years, Since 1990, my second world title fight, I still trained and I still sparred my fighters and I developed champions. So, you know, I said, you know what, I'm 47 years old, they're going to give me a shot at a world title fighting a 30-year-old guy again. You know what, I'm going to go for it. My one shot. So here I am, 2004, 47 years old. A week before the fight, I'm training for the fight and I catch a One of my sparring partners catches me with a sidekick on my collarbone, breaks it, fractures it in 2 spots. One week before the fight.
Wow.
My 3rd world title fight. So what do I do? Prayed about it, asked God to give me strength, and I said, you know what, I'm going to go for it. So I fight this guy, 30-year-old guy, in 2004 for the world title, and I beat him. 3 rounds. I beat him. And it was my last shot and I took it.
Wow.
And in 2004, I became the world champion. You know, 3 times, you know, third time's a charm. And it was my one shot. I trained for it and I got it. And, you know, they say, you know, what's up with you? And I said, you know what? I had this desire and this dream, and God gave it to me at a time when I wasn't supposed to have it. You know, at a time when you're too old, you're 47, you're too old. But no, you know, all things are possible through Christ who strengthens me. And that's how it goes. My one shot.
