1997 Golota vs Prime Tua [discuss]

These guys sparred a lot in the gym. I think golota would do well against Tua, the heavier version especially. Golota had the style to neutralize Tua's one dimensional style, but if Tua lands hard golota falls apart. I'd still pick Golota to beat him. Theres a reason why Duva and Co, put Golota in with Bowe before Tua, they saw these guys progress in the gym and even though Golota would prove to be mentally weaker, he was more skilled than David and ready for the better fighters sooner.

 

I personally dont think Golota has the mental capacity to go 12 rounds with Tua without crumbling under the pressure. Tuas got a good chin, hes not going anywhere, i certainly dont see Golota stopping him. Somewhere down the line Golota finds himself in a place he doesnt want to be in and then he will quit

 

Golota fell apart against extreme resistance. Tua could be tamed by a jab and distance and didnt always bring a lot of heat. Plus Golota sparred Tua a lot when they both turned pro at the same time. Tua had been outboxed at distance for a lot of rounds against way inferior fighters. Tua would have to pressure Golota with all his will to make him crumble.

 

Tua by DQ, and Tua would drop for the second time in his career (first was where he got KO'd by felix Savon)

Possibly ends up sterile.


In sparring sessions Golota already started low blowing when he couldn't hurt Tua....

 

He also was white.

 

Back then, it would have been a very popular bout & that leads to pre-fight pressure. Anxiety. Expectations. Repurcussions of a win compared to a loss. Those days building up to fight night are the problems with Golata and having him show up at fightime at 100%. That, and I just like him against boxer types much much better than hitters.

 

Gotta go with Tua by KO. We saw him fold against Lennox with the first big punch that landed. Although Tua's punching technique is nowhere near as sound as Lewis' big straight right, he arguably hits a lot harder. Golota would be well up on the cards, but Tua lands something big in the middle rounds and stops Golota in 8 rounds or less.

 

This one is really hard to call.... Golota was clearly the more skilled boxer, but he just fell apart mentally in his big fights.. I mean he should have had 2 wins against Bowe, instead he has 2 DQ losses. If Golota was able to keep it together I could see him winning a decision. but Tua could spark him out early, or Golota could get himself DQ'd.

 

Golota losses in spectacular DQ fashion after dominating Tua

 

If Tyson and Brewster had their way with him, I assume Tua would too. Golata fought a who's who of guys who fight like Tua and failed spectacularly.

 

I guess that Tuas lack of work ethic would overcome Golattas ability to turn the most favourable situation to defeat!

 

Golota was the better fighter but Tua very slow and plodding may wreck Golota's mind with a few hard blows, when I first saw him vs Bowe I was amazes then he blew a winning fight with a low blow...then the rematch and more to follow....I cant bet with Andrew

 

Ah yes, I forgot the extreme resistance that Riddick Bowe and Samson Po'uha were putting up.

If we're assuming Tua at his best, (since it does say prime Tua) then there's no reason to assume he'd come in especially heavy (probably not above the low to mid 220s, as he did with Ruiz, Maskaev, Izon Ibeabuchi, etc.) or be as lazy as he was in some of his lower moments, such as against Lewis and Byrd.

My guess is Golota has some early success (as long as he doesn't just get caught cold) but then Tua gets to him brutally, and either Golota folds or gets KO'd.

In the end, sloppy work ethic and in love with his power as he was, I have more faith in Tua's ability to get to an opponent than Golota's ability to cleanly win a potentially difficult fight over 12 rounds.