Bowe set for jail release

Bowe was jailed for abducting his wife and children

A federal judge has decided to release former heavyweight boxing champion Riddick Bowe from jail, but with strict limitations including 24-hour electronic monitoring.

He will continue being held in the Mecklenburg County jail until a friend's Maryland home can be equipped with monitoring equipment.

Bowe, arrested in New York on 8 February on charges of assaulting his wife, could have his probation revoked on a previous domestic violence conviction involving his former wife.

If his probation is revoked, Bowe could be sentenced to prison.

Unsecured bond

Prosecutors told the US Magistrate Judge at a hearing on Friday that Bowe should remain in jail until a court can rule if he violated the conditions of his probation on last year's conviction.

He poses a serious danger to the community, particularly his family, they said.

Defence attorneys told the judge after the three-hour hearing that Bowe did not present a threat to anyone.

Holyfield (r) and Bowe (r) clash in 1993

The former WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion made an initial court appearance on Tuesday before a magistrate judge.

The Brooklyn-born boxer was also fined and placed on four years of supervised release.

He was ordered not to box professionally after pleading guilty to forcing his wife and children from their home and driving them north to his home in Maryland.

Bowe was arrested outside a fast-food restaurant in Virginia when his wife called for help and alleged he had stabbed her with a knife during the abduction.

McKnight agreed to release Bowe on a US$100,000 unsecured bond.

The judge allowed him to live in the Maryland home of his close friend, Jeffrey Jackson, where he will be under 24-hour house arrest.

Bowe will remain in jail until the house is prepared, which could take several days.

Bowe is under a court order to stay away from his wife and her two sons.

Bowe won a silver medal in the 1988 Olympics and earned more than US$75m in the ring, but has suffered legal and physical problems since losing a rematch with Evander Holyfield in 1993.