Former world heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe was jailed for 18 months today for the abduction of his estranged wife and children five years ago.
Bowe, 35, had twice received sentences which enabled him to avoid prison only for a federal appeals court in Charlotte to demand re-sentencing each time.
Bowe, armed with pepper spray, handcuffs and tape, abducted Judy Bowe and their children in what his lawyers described as a misguided attempt to patch up his marriage in 1998.
He drove them 200 miles across state lines before his famous penchant for junk food propelled him to stop at a restaurant, where his wife escaped and called for help.
Bowe lost the 1988 Olympic final to Lennox Lewis but went on to claim the undisputed heavyweight title in one of three epic battles with Evander Holyfield in 1992.
He last fought in two notorious battles with Andrew Golota in 1996 when he took great punishment but emerged each time with a disqualification win.
Bowe's retirement has not been a happy one and there have been growing concerns about his health. He attempted to fulfil a lifelong dream of joining the US Marine Reserve in 1997 but dropped out after only three days at boot camp.