Was Golota Robbed in '04 at MSG Because of The '96 Riot There?

I certainly thought he beat Ruiz.

But, you know, you reap what you sew... The guy was the definition of "million dollar body, ten cent brain"... He made some bad moves in his career and his temperament just wasn't championship caliber.

 

I don't have an answer to your question. But I remember thinking around that time, "why did Don King sign him?" I got my answer during the Peter-McCline card, which, as I said in another thread, was my one attended in person Madison Square Garden card. Golota fought Kevin McBride on that card. Golota's fans were out in force. They were CRAZY for him, running around the Garden. Even when I took a train back to Queens, several of his fans were in my car, still celebrating. Golota sold tickets.

 

I watched the Ruiz bout and Ruiz jabbed his head off for the majority of the bout. That was a legit decision. Never got round to watching the Byrd bout

 

You'd have to be bored to do this but if you rewatch it and count the punches landed round by round I think you'd have Ruiz well up.

 

Golota had him down twice but I'll take your word for it. I also though Andy beat Byrd.

 

Yes I know that there were KDs early but outside of that I thought Ruiz outlanded Golota consistantly round on round. What Ruiz does is boring but you do have to give him credit for landing more punches per round, ie jabs, when he does. But who knows maybe I re-watch and see it differently. I'm also not desperate to rewatch it.

I didn't see the Byrd fight to comment.

 

Aound the time these fights were taking place I worked around a lot of poles and they'd get their hopes up than insult Golota after the fight which i found unfair but understandable....no one lost so uniquely like Andrew! The Brewster one was the worst.I had him beating Byrd and Ruiz.....what a career... he fought everyone...what talent and tools he had ...and he probably achieved it all with real issues upstairs in the ring .
Outside the ring he married a lawyer.
Wherever he is these days it cant be denied this man sold tickets .

 

I scored Byrd fight 115-113 for Byrd, so no robbery. I thought he edged Ruiz though

 

Yes, Golota was robbed. Golota outlanded Ruiz by, I believe, more than 40 punches. Golota scored two knockdowns. Ruiz was deducted a point on top of all that for fouling and Ruiz's corner man was ejected from ringside because they were losing and he totally lost control.

And, yet, John Ruiz got a unanimous decision. It was the only time I've watched a fight where I couldn't go to sleep that night. It was a robbery, in its purest form. If John Ruiz lasted the distance, the decision was his.

Andrew Golota won the IBF title from Byrd and the WBA title from Ruiz in back-to-back fights, but the judges wouldn't give him either fight.

 

He definitely didn't if you watch it. Ruiz was the one outlanding Golota