Andrew Golota VS Archie Moore

Bowe was shot and out of shape

 

He was slightly out of shape for the 1st contest but there is nothing to suggest going in that he was shot. 1995 was arguably Bowe's best year in the sport with KO wins over the undefeated hard punching Herbie Hide, Jorge Gonzales and KO over Holyfield in the rubber match. Many pundits and fans believed Bowe was the best HW in the World. Golota beat the career out of him.

 

And Golota had the prime beaten out of him. By a Bowe who barely even trained for the fight and who had already lost his hunger and passion for the sport.

Gotola still lost TWICE by a faded out of shape Bowe and was never the same again. Completely shattered mentally.
And you are correct about one thing - Golota was a tremendous fighter in 1996 under Duva and would give hell to Archie Moore -just not good enough to beat Bid Daddy

 

He was definitely fat and out of shape for the first fight at over 250Ib yet he really made the effort to get into shape for the second fight. He actually weighed in at the same weight of 235Ib that he weighed for his career best performance in the first Evander Holyfield fight yet if you looked at his face and condition body in those two fights, it was as different as night and day. In the Holyfield fight, Bowe looked a big, strong, imposing figure but in the second Golota fight, even though he weighed the same, he looked drawn, weak with hardly any muscle definition in his body and with the skinniest pair of legs seen on a heavyweight. He looked like he hadn't eaten for a week and it was clear that all the ill discipline and ballooning up in weight between fight had taken a permanent toll on his body.

 

I completely agree wit you assessment.Bowe was obviousl weight drained for the 2nd Golota fight.

 

Not slightly out if shape.Fat the first time and weight drained the 2nd time.

 

Golota will KO Moore with the first low blow he lands. He ain't getting up like Bowe.

 

Golota was very easy to hit and Moore had a much better defense than Bowe. Golota didn`t have the savvy to exploit his reach against Moore.

 

Bowe was in shape for the rematch with Golota and trained seriously going into the fight (despite being without Eddie Futch). Essentially, those losses were only "official". But we all know what happened in the ring. Golota destroyed Bowe in both fights.

I also don't agree with the theory that the Bowe fights took the prime out of Golota. Look at what Andy was able to do to Corey Sanders (one of the bloodiest battles in the last 30 years if not boxing history – blood was dripping on the audience seated in the first row(s)). And what about the Michael Grant fight too?! People say Golota essentially ended Bowe's career. Well Golota also exposed Grant. So much so that the latter was never the same fighter again.

 

Moore would kick this Pole's ass. Next day's headlines "MOORE INVADES POLAND - MAKES NAZI'S LOOK LIKE A BUNCH OF CRACKER JACK"

 

What a fight this would have been!

If they lived and fought around the same period, boxing fans would have gotten a classic. Although Moore possesses better perseverance, ring generalship as well as a higher ring IQ, I have my doubts about his size in this head-to-head match-up. The problem here is that Golota wasn’t just a heavyweight. He was a big heavyweight.

Further, and more importantly, it’s all about levels in boxing. Golota only lost to men who were either Hall of Famers or current or former world champions or European champion(s). That, along with the gallantry, skill, ability, and dominance Golota displayed in two wars with Bowe, is the augury here. The Polish national hero, as the bigger and stronger man under the guidance of the late, great Lou Duva, edges Moore. A late stoppage is the likely outcome (since Moore is smaller Golota is less likely to become frustrated) although a wide decision victory is not out of the question.

 

In order for us to dismiss Moore as a viable opponent for Galota, we would need to assume two things:

1. Galota hit much harder than Marciano [Moore stood up to Marciano's punches up until the late rounds]

2. Galota has a far sturdier chin than Marciano [Moore floored Marciano in an Early round]

If we don't make those two assumptions we would need to logically conclude that Moore would indeed have been a viable opponent for Galota.

BTW

I agree that Galota displayed exceptional skill in the Bowe fight. However, I disagree that his behavior can be summed up as gallant during that fight since it included purposefully and maliciously fouling an opponent in the groin repeatedly. That is very often seen as a cowardly act because it indicates a refusal to compete fairly.

Gallantry Definition:
courageous behavior : bravery He showed gallantry in battle.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gallantry

Also, I am not convinced that Galota would be immune to being frustrated if Moore hit him often enough.

 

I understand what you mean. I would say that at least in the first of their two fights, Golota didn't intentionally hit Bowe below the belt line. He simply wasn't doing a good job controlling where his punches were landing and was sort of throwing without paying attention despite previous referee warnings from the late Wayne Kelly. The second fight is a different matter and although the result was a disqualification for the second time in a row, it made it that much more interesting/suspenseful even (so much so that we could have and should have (!) gotten a Bowe-Golota III).

Overall though, the endings of both bouts were the wrong ones and it ruined what otherwise would have been great nights (the fights would not be remembered for the riot and DQs like they are today). The DQs kept both Bowe and Golota from being remembered as gallant warriors in these two matches instead of fighters who partook in awkward ring happenings.

 

It also ruined the Galota potential reign as HW champ. Who would have been his mandatory had he won that first fight?


BTW

A third bout with Galota? If Bowe would grant Galota a third chance at his gonads then he would definitely deserve the congressional medal of honor for bravery.

 

This fight will end with Moore lying on the canvas. Either be clean shots to the head or low blows to the balls.