Andrew Golota is going to be remembered for 4 things. They are- 1. Being splattered by Lennox Lewis 2. Qutting against Mike Tyson. 3. Being disqualified against Riddick Bowe. 4. And finally that really bad acne back.
He was robbed vs Byrd and Ruiz,excellent performance at 40 vs Mollo,2 great fights in which he collapsed mentally with Bowe.
I wasn't too fond with Golota after I flew out to the Palace of Auburn Hills only to see him quit early in the fight. And then almost have Oliver McCall kick my ass after the fight.
I have to admit, I feel for the guy when they interview him in the locker room (and when punks in the crowd are throwing stuff at him). There's no honour in stepping on a guy in a moment of weakness.
He will be remembered for: 1. Beating and finishing Bowe's career 2. Tendency to foul especially low blow 3. Mental collapses whether he was losing or winning 4. Being robbed of 2 titles at age 40 5. His 1st round KO loses
Never got to see the Byrd fight - but Golota wasn't robbed against Ruiz. He let a fight that he seemed to be in control of - get clearly away from him due to his increasing inactivity as the fight progressed. He could have won - but as per usual when contesting for a title - Golota did just enough to lose. Golota/Ruiz is one of my favorite fights of that year. It wasn't a sensational brawl by any means - but it featured some of the greatest moments of Norman Stone throughout the bout. Classic stuff.
TO his credit - Golota had a fractured vertebrae due to Tyson's punches. I don;t blame him for quitting that one. Golota's great downfall has always been his inability to rise to and take advantage of the occasion. He clearly had Riddick Bowe's number in both of their encounters - but his fouling tactics prevented him from claiming what should have been his two greatest victories.