Thats what I was thinking.. they both have decent handspeed, both have good power. Both are about the same size too.
Maskaev really looked horrible against Peter after such a long layoff. Golota has been working himself back into form. No way do I see Oleg pulling out a win over a Golota who seems pretty damn tough mentally for once, believe it or not.
I could see this fight going several ways. 1) Maskaev connects with his big right hand early, hurting Golota, putting him on the defensive, and stopping him shortly thereafter. 2) Golota connects with something big early, hurting Maskaev, and finishing him off with a combination of punches against the ropes. 3) Maskaev outboxes Golota using his timing, straight punches, and pivoting. 4) Golota outboxes Maskaev with his longer left jab. 5) Golota wears Maskaev down with his higher punch output. Honestly, both guys are badly faded. They still have good skill levels and have a good ring IQ, but as far as speed, reflexes, and timing, it's night and day compared to their primes. I'd go for Golota though - he's more active, he has better stamina, and he holds a size advantage. I think he'd either win a decision or stop an even more tired Maskaev in the late rounds. 50/50 fight.
Both are badly faded, but Maskaev is still operating on a higher level. Plus, he has more power. Golota's reflexes are more deteriorated than Maskaev's and although both are capable of hurting eachother, it's hard for me to see Golota finishing Maskaev if he hurt him, but I could easily see Maskaev stopping Golota after wobbling him, his finishing abilities are better. Maskaev by mid rounds TKO.
Golota mid TKO. Around 8 - 9 would be probable. I see Golota jabbing his way and hurting Maskaev with his right hand. Golota then TKO's him or possible KO's him in the early late stages of the rounds.
Golota takes this in a highly entertaining fight. I see a similar outcome as the McBride fight, either late stoppage or clear UD for Golota. Maskaev is better than McBride though so it could be interesting at times. Good fight if it can be made.
I'd take Golota by KO in the middle rounds. Maskaev looked 50 years old against Peter, even before he got hit with anything he was staggering all over the ring, he couldn't lift his arms to punch or protect himself for more than a few seconds at a time., plus he had that wild Bill Murray-from-Kingpin-hair going on that made him look crazy and senile as he was holding the back of his head while Peter was unloading the widest hooks on the planet to take him out. Golota looks old and wobbly in the first round before he gets loosened up, the advantage being he can actually loosen up. Once that happens he should dominate Maskaev til the old man collapses.
I think that Maskaev looks very brittle at this point. He was being hurt by even jabs and glancing punches against Peter. Golota still has a lot left and he would keep him off balance with his jab and right hand. Golota UD10 Maskaev
I agree with what your saying & can't believe the others actually give Oleg a chance. He looked 10x worse against Peter than Golota did in his 1st comeback fight vs Bates. AG has improved with each of his 3 comeback fights while it was hard to watch Maskaev in slow-mo. He would get battered.
Id pick even McBride to beat him. Maskaev is shot. One more fight left in Maskaev and he will lose and then retire.
