If Golota Didn't Quit Against Tyson, How Would The Fight Have Gone?

If only the big Pole hung in there against past-prime "Iron Mike," would the latter have tired out by rounds 5-6 and would he have been the one who quit, not Andrew? Tyson admitted in his autobiography that he was actually afraid of the big Pole and would have quit if Golota didn't end up quitting, if my memory serves me correct. Feedback?

*Please bear in mind this is the 2000 version, not the '86 Tyson we're talking about. In 2000 Andrew had everything to beat Mike and could have been the favorite, which I can't remember if he was or not.

 

the right that Tyson landed ended the fight.

It was not going to go past 5-6 rounds. Golota would have been stopped in the next 2 rounds.

 

Tyson was countering Golota`s jab with ease, his counter right destroyed Golota and I think he smashed his jaw too, Golota missed every jab he threw and over-commtted every time he threw, Bowe`s counter right wasn`t as good as Tyson`s, Golota wasn`t on Mike`s level at all.

 

I'm not convinced that right was so damaging because why did Golota get right back up?

 

Golota>gutless coward. No more. No less.

 

Tyson would still have got him imo. Mentally, idk but I just think Tyson spooked him to, but the shots alone were doing enough damage. Maybe a couple more rounds and Golota would have been dropped again, I don't see him going past 5.

 

I think Golota was genuinely afraid of Tyson. His serious injury in that bout was a sort of self-fulfilling prophesy, as much as that is possible. But even if he hadn't have been injured, I don't think he had it mentally together to beat Tyson at that time. Also, Tyson fought what was probably his best post-prison fight (although he didn't have to maintain that level for very long). Perhaps, if he really was afraid of Golota, he used that fear to train and fight well. 'Course his method of evening relaxation stripped him of his victory, officially.

 

didn't land on the chin. It was on the eye. He was in agony.

Imagine Tyson landing another clean right hand on the same spot. Golota would be risking permenant eye damage.

 

If only he could’ve been as tough as you when you fought Tyson

 

I haven't looked it up to confirm but I recall it coming out that Golota had a hernia from a pre-existing injury that caused him to quit against Tyson.

The truth of the matter, Golota was very injury prone and often had serious issues in his training camps with them. He was typically fighting injured and on some sort of pain meds.

He was a headcase to be sure, but also terribly unlucky with injuries which because of his crazy behavior is often overshadowed and just as valid a reason for his inconsistent performances.

 

"...risking permanent eye damage." All the more reason Andy's quit was legit. I still think if he lasted longer his confidence would have been built up. I'm sorry, but I don't see Tyson going the distance in a hard-fought battle. Mike was used to ending it early, that was his expectation. But we can't turn back time.

 

Dr. Wesley Yapor, a neurosurgeon treating Golota, said the fighter sustained a concussion, a fractured left cheekbone and a herniated disc between the fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae.

 

Don't remember anything about the hernia but yes, Andy was very injury-prone. That's how the Mercer fight was canceled which opened the door for a shot at Lewis.

 

This. It looked like a ***** move at the time but he had been wrecked. If he'd gone on Tyson might have ended his career.

I mean, Golota was hanging in there but the Tyson overhand right was finding a home repeatedly. He was having difficulty landing anything hurtful on Tyson and was not really tying Mike up effectively either. If Golota could have gotten his good jab going and tying Tyson up inside he might have done OK. As it was Tyson was thumping him though.

 

Tyson broke Golota's orbital bone with that right hand. It was well publicized at the time. Golota talked about being driven back to Chicago in agony, although he claimed it was a headbutt that did the damage (spoiler alert: It wasnt.).