Would you pay for a Golota/Lewis II PPV?

Yes, that is correct. Andrew sued the doctor who administered the shot and that resulted in an out-of-court settlement of $1 million for Andrew. Golota suffered a seizure following the bout and that was likely due to the lidocaine administered by Dr. Scott Katzman prior to the fight with Lennox Lewis (Andrew had an achy knee).

Absolutely, Golota acted prudently at the Palace while facing Mike Tyson. A neurosurgeon confirmed his injuries following the Tyson fight. Golota was smart to say "No Mas" and exit the ring because post-fight tests revealed a concussion, a fractured left cheekbone, as well as a herniated disk between the fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae. If Andrew never sustained those injuries and his fight with "Iron" Mike continued, then around the 5th or 6th round Tyson would have been the one who quit and exited the ring (Andy would have done the same thing Kevin McBride did to Tyson in '05). Even by 2000, Tyson no longer had the motivation or strength to be competitive against A-level talents such as Golota. Over a stretch of fighting eight different heavyweights in eight bouts spanning five years ('00 to '05), Tyson faced only two A-level talents: Lewis and Golota. Shortly after the Tyson-Golota fight ended on October 20, 2000, and the Showtime telecast had gone off the air, the two fighters (Golota and Tyson) were seen leaving the arena. Golota was walking comfortably with his entourage and there was a guy straggling behind that entourage, a guy who was holding his head low. This guy was Mike Tyson. That pretty much sums up what the scene would have been in the ring had Golota not gotten injured. Tyson would have lost, he didn't have the same drive, firepower, or hunger as before. It was setting up for the Polish-born idol of millions to score the biggest victory of his career to date (as you said Golota survived the first two rounds and was holding his own, and we all know that the key is for Golota to survive the early onslaughts). Tyson would have grown in frustration the longer Golota would be still in the fight.

Although Tyson-Golota, dubbed the "Showdown in Motown", is a fight equated with infamy, it still gets more attention than most people probably would like to give it credit for. Tyson-Golota went down as one of the Top high profile boxing surrenders ever (up there with Leonard-Duran II). It is not that Golota was feckless in his approach to topping Tyson. Andrew was simply left with no choice because if he continued, he would have been risking his own health and possibly life. A fighter's health always takes priority over continuing a boxing match. Therefore, I don't see how what Roberto Duran did against Sugar Ray Leonard in their rematch is any different than what Golota did against Mike Tyson.

 

How much was a PPV in the States back in those days? They were always free in my part of the world back then.

 

I never wanted to see Golota fight anyone really of interest. I mean the guy lost everytime he stepped up. And most often than not, in the first round. Anytime he went more that 3 rounds he would quit in his corner. I will NEVER EVER understand why people regarded him so highly. He was no better than Bruce Seldon, or someone of that caliber.

 

I'd pay for Vitali Lewis 2

 

Would it have been a nice scrap, sure. But pay for it? No.

 

I don't hold much stock in first round ko's..The rematch wouldn't of been as quick even though Lewis was superior

 

If Golota could show up and not have a panic attack.. He could definitely cause Lennox some trouble early on. There's a good chance it would have mirrored the first though, but a solid outside chance is that Golota keeps it together for 4-5 rounds and thus gives the fans a show a 2nd time around. I would have been in elementary school at the time, so there's no way I'd order it... But considering the large number of Polish friends that I have today, if I were 4-5 years older? Yeah... I'd probably have watched it no question.

 

Why in hell would I pay for a fight that we had already seen end in one round?