Would have been a nice Eastern-European duel, even if Golota lived already in the USA for many years. Golota was the better boxer, had the better punch and was naturally the bigger man (6ft4/193cm; 243lb/110kg). Mavrovic had most certainly the better chin (absorbed very good shots from Lewis, Golota couldnt) and was cooler, he never lost his nerves and stayed cool even under pressure. He was a smaller heavyweight (6ft3/191cm; 214lb/97kg). PS: Mavrovic´s reach is unknown, but i guess it was not very large, maybe around 75 inches (190cm). Golota had a 79 inch (201cm) reach, exactly the same as Vitali Klitschko. I would go with Golota via UD, but he has to hold his nerves together since i dont see he would KO or even KD Mavrovic.
Golota should have won this fight by UD... But you never know with Andrzei - he could always find a way to lose the fight
Golota was definitely a better and more talented fighter than Mavrovic also unlike Mavrovic Golota had much tougher opponents in his career, Twice against Riddick Bowe, fights with Lennox Lewis, Michael Grant and Mike Tyson while Mavrovic had only one strong opponent in career so I think Golota would win if he would stay mentally strong in the ring ...
Mavrovic, he had a solid chin & good stamina & would not have been intimidated by Golota, he would outwork the Pole, giving him trouble throughout the duration of the bout & winning either by late round stoppage or unanimous decision. Golota rarely won a big fight & can't see why he would start doing it now, Mavrovic would be the likely winner.
Golota fought tougher opponents but lost decisively to most of them, Bowe aside obviously, he battered Bowe on both occasions but was disqualified, the three mentioned stopped him so i would go Mavrovic, he had the better chin having never been stopped & his stamina was good also, his mental game was never questioned so Mavrovic for me, either by stoppage or unanimous decision.
Even with his questionable chin and heart, Golota by far had the greater body of work, he was the more proven commodity. I watched the Lewis vs Marvovic in a bar on a small black and white TV up in the corner with no sound, and Ive never seen it again, but I don't remember Lewis ever going after Marvovic the same way he did against Golota, I imagine if he had the results would be similar
I think Golata was more proven against higher caliber opponents. Not saying he was great, but Mavrovic hasn’t been in with that many good fighters
Golota because it was the power and roughness which discouraged Golota, in a safe boxing match, that is where he would look good and not have to show dog which he didn’t have
This content is protected He did go after him after Mavrovic hurt him a couple of times. Lewis landed some very hard right hands and Mavrovic took them better then Vitali. Merchant and Foreman also made comments in the final 2 round that Zeljko hat a very strong chin (at 8:47 Lewis lands a right hand on his chin that would imo even hurt Vitali and HOlyfield a bit). Watch this clip completely, and you see Lennox landed many very good shots during that night, especially MANY uppercuts. Mavrovic was never really hurt, a bit yes, but not much. Golota would never be able to take all of them without being badly hurt or down.
I even think that Željko Mavrović offered one of the best resistances to Lewis (without winning) except Ray Mercer.
