WHAT IF: Andrew Golota Won a Major belt in '04 OR '05?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Italian Stallion, Jul 13, 2020.


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  1. Italian Stallion

    Italian Stallion Active Member Full Member

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    It's said Golota's best known for getting DQ'd against Riddick Bowe & causing the Garden Riot. But...you all know how close Andrew was in '04 to winning a belt...heck, many feel he beat Byrd and Ruiz. Let's say Andrew won the WBA strap over Ruiz but lost it in his first defense, that would make the Pole an official champ. But even in that case would the Warsaw bruiser still have gone down w/ the Garden Riot being the most memorable moment of his career?
     
    Italian Stallion, Jul 13, 2020
    Italian Stallion, Jul 13, 2020
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  2. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    I know it may sound bad, but I really wish Golota wasn't thrown to the wolves quote so much. I don't think he had the mental capacity to become champion, he just couldn't keep it together, but he was unlucky vs Ruiz to not get that.

    Golota was a hyper-aggressive, 6'5 juggernaut. He was genuinely, really fun to watch and IMO one of the more underappreciated fighters of the time (probably because he was ****ing crackers!). I think if things lined up a little different, and he had been managed more carefully and let to mature mentally, he'd have been a champion.

    If he was kept more at mid-level, rather than high-level, you'd see a few more amazing fights. Him vs the Black Bull, Moorer, Cooper etc. would've been wars for the ages.
     
    George Crowcroft, Jul 13, 2020
    George Crowcroft, Jul 13, 2020
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  3. CharlesBurley

    CharlesBurley Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    He didn't though Ruiz clearly outworked him and outjabbed for the majority of the fight

    I haven't watched the Byrd fight
     
    CharlesBurley, Jul 13, 2020
    CharlesBurley, Jul 13, 2020
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  4. Italian Stallion

    Italian Stallion Active Member Full Member

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    Italian Stallion, Jul 13, 2020
    Italian Stallion, Jul 13, 2020
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  5. Italian Stallion

    Italian Stallion Active Member Full Member

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    Ruiz came back in the 2nd stage of the fight but he didn't deserve the UD after 2 KDs and a point deducted. Most experts believe Andy won.
     
    Italian Stallion, Jul 13, 2020
    Italian Stallion, Jul 13, 2020
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  6. klompton2

    klompton2 Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    I thought Golota beat both Byrd and Ruiz pretty clearly.
     
    klompton2, Jul 13, 2020
    klompton2, Jul 13, 2020
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  7. steve1990

    steve1990 Active Member Full Member

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    If Golota had gotten the decision against Ruiz or Byrd he might faced Wladimir Klitschko who stops him pretty easily. Samuel Peter would be another one who blasts him out. We saw what Lamon Brewster did to him. Hasim Rahman beats him as well. Vitali Klitschko destroys him and stops him mid rounds. He wouldn't have went far after Ruiz and Byrd.
     
    Last edited: Jul 13, 2020
    steve1990, Jul 13, 2020
    steve1990, Jul 13, 2020
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  8. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    I think he was with King.

    I imagine he would've had a fight or two against complete scrubs in Poland or Chicago before getting cashed out against Brewster in a unification.

    I also wouldn't be surprised to see Holyfield, Toney, or Rahman called in to fight him.
     
    NoNeck, Jul 13, 2020
    NoNeck, Jul 13, 2020
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  9. Italian Stallion

    Italian Stallion Active Member Full Member

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    Yes, Andy was with Don King. But if he held a belt, even if for a short time in '04, do you think today we would still most remember him for the riot, and not the belt he held?
     
    Italian Stallion, Jul 13, 2020
    Italian Stallion, Jul 13, 2020
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  10. Italian Stallion

    Italian Stallion Active Member Full Member

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    Me too! Btw, do you think that if Kownacki fails in his quest to become the first Polish HW champion and Andrew Golota remains the greatest Polish HW ever, will that be bittersweet consolation for Golota for never officially winning a title himself?
     
    Italian Stallion, Jul 13, 2020
    Italian Stallion, Jul 13, 2020
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  11. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    Of course. Byrd and Ruiz weren't the real champions anyway.
     
    NoNeck, Jul 13, 2020
    NoNeck, Jul 13, 2020
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  12. klompton2

    klompton2 Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    It would for me.
     
    klompton2, Jul 13, 2020
    klompton2, Jul 13, 2020
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  13. Rumsfeld

    Rumsfeld Moderator Staff Member

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    Very difficult to say. I still tend to believe he would probably best be remembered for the Bowe fights, regardless. But if he had gotten the decision against Byrd and Ruiz? In theory he'd have become a unified champion, which would carry more weight than just being a mere alphabet title holder. But had Golota gotten the win against Byrd, or Ruiz in the next fight - it's difficult to say how DK would have matched Golota. At the time King wasn't making an effort towards unification for the belt holders he promoted. He was instead mixing and matching his champions against a lot of the same names. Oquendo and Golota most notably.

    If things played out where he held the WBA/IBF and lost KO1 in a unification with Brewster's WBO - I think he'd maybe have a greater "what if" vibe. But the Bowe fights were still clearly his peak in terms of skills and athleticism. It's just his mental peak came 8 years later when he was physically worn down and considerably slower.
     
    Rumsfeld, Jul 13, 2020
    Rumsfeld, Jul 13, 2020
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  14. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I always did, too. I couldn't sleep the night after the Ruiz-Golota decision. Just seemed cruel. The draw with Byrd seemed like a bad decision. The Ruiz verdict was cruel.
     
    Last edited: Jul 14, 2020
    Dubblechin, Jul 14, 2020
    Dubblechin, Jul 14, 2020
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  15. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Basically, if Golota received the decisions against IBF champ Byrd and WBA champ Ruiz (which I thought he deserved), his next fight with WBO champ Lamon Brewster would've been a unification for three of the four belts.

    Just goes to show that even when the fighters agree to get in the ring to settle matters, the judges can keep belts split all on their own.

    At the conclusion of those three fights, Lamon Brewster should've had three belts. Had he, maybe his epic title fight with Sergei Liakhovich (which goes totally unnoticed) would be recognized for the classic heavyweight championship fight that it was.

    Most people don't even remember it today.
     
    Dubblechin, Jul 14, 2020
    Dubblechin, Jul 14, 2020
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