heavyweight Tourney: Rd 1: Andrew Golota .Vs. Jess Willard

Golota over 10rds by decision.

 

He had Bowe on the floor more often than anyone ever had.


Also, the only reason that Willard was a world class big man is because his size and strength were exceptional in his day. He'd probably be a Timo Hoffman today. The only reason he won the title in the first place is because of his endurance against an old, fat unmotivated man, while widely losing the first 15 rounds.

The point isn't really about whether Golota can KO him, the point is that he can TKO him. Willard does have a puncher's chance, though.

 

Over 10 rounds there isn´t much to discuss imho. The winner must be Golota. The distance favours Golota heavily there. Over 15 rounds I would pick Willard.

 

Golota starts off well but Willard stands firm and starts landing a few more uppercuts and straight rights as the fight goes on. As it goes on Golota starts to foul and look anxious. By the 8th or 9th Golota is decidedly flakey, and quits or fouls himself out when Willard hits him a hard right in the 8th, 9th or 10th.
Willard wins, behind on points, and a bit banged up.

 

He knocked Bowe down, but he never managed to finish him off. He would need to better against Willard, even to TKO him. Bowe had a rock solid chin but he was very easy to hit. Holyfield also managed to knock him down and he does not really have sensational power. Willard is going to be harder to hit because he tries to keep the fight at a longer range and he moves around laterally a lot. The weight on the back foot stance also makes it harder to hit clean (because of the distance issue). And we know that Willard can take plenty of punishment and will keep getting up. Even if Golota is winning, he is going to get very frustrated.

I am not sure how Willards size and strength would rank today. Judging by the film posted of his KO of Johnson, he clearly has far better stamina than any big man today. This usually equates to an excellent chin, which i think it fair to say that his chin would be as good as anyones today. These two factors alone make him a far better proposition than Hoffman, even if his strength was on the same level. Looking at the film, i would say that he would certainly be one of the faster fighters around today, especially considering that we were watching him fight after 20 Rounds! And his lateral movement looks a bit better than most today.

I think the areas he could be said to fall down in would probably be Defensive skills and ability to slip punches. Also, from the film against Johnson his workrate was a bit ordinary, but again this may have been because it was the 20th round. In relation to his power, i agree, that he wouldnt be that much stronger than some of the contemporaries. But, at the very least, i think he would hit as hard or harder than Golota, because he does not seem to arm punch as much on the film.

 

Even over ten rounds might Golotta not find a way to loose?

 

Willard might have been a world class big man in his day, but he would be a clubfighter now. WIllard never saw a combination of speed,power and size this would be a mismatch and Golota would stop him in 2. In the Modern era WIllard would be a world class big man in the tough man contest,and would win that but would never make it pass the undercards today.

 

Golota didn't even stop Kevin McBride in two.

 

Why? Just a hunch?

Well he was used to fighting fighters that were a lot quicker than Golota. And he certainly fought fighters that hit just as hard or harder. I suppose you have a bit of a point regarding size, but it is not as if Willard would be fighting someone any bigger than himself!

Who did Golota ever beat that had the great combination of speed, power and size? Definitely not Tyson or Lewis. Old Jack johnson had a far better combination of speed power and size than anyone that Golota beat.

Who did Golota beat that didnt huff and puff after two rounds?

atsch If the fight only goes two, i know who my money is on. I just wouldnt be sure if he would get DQd or quit on his stool. If Golota wins, it will be by brutally wearing down his opponent as others have indicated.

Why because he was fit and in shape?

Let us just assume that (like he had in his day) Willard had good stamina, a good chin, good power and is at the very least a world title level fighter. I am guessing if this is correct then you are tipping Willard?

One could just as easily say that golota was a mentally frail no hoper who would have got kicked around the mining bars and never made it on to the professional scene due to the severe beatings and mental torment he would cop from the hardened miners back in Willards day, but it would seem a bit mythical and ridiculous to suggest this, just as it is ridiculous to say willard was a club fighter level. The fact remains that both fighters were world class fighters not club level fighters.