Bizzare aura and atmosphere. Golota already diminished because of the accident. Ruiz as negative as ever. I had it 116-111 with 114-111 being as generous as I could go for John, though granted he did have some good, flush shots. Felt like Don King robbing Golota to ensure the belts stays at his stable. It's one of the few rare fights where a boxer loses rounds on generalship for me. Even if Golota only landed jabs in some of those rounds, Ruiz was extremely negative, conceding control of action and taking breaks after every entry. Whatever single power shot he may have landed is in my book always outweight by the sea of spoiling. Ruiz should have left the ring with Norman Stone and never come back. Prime Golota would murder the bum.
Despite not beating Ruiz or Byrd in 04 Golota had a little bit of momentum until Brewster destroyed him. After that his career was pretty much over.
Golota fought Byrd (IBF), Ruiz (WBA) and Brewster (WBO) in a row. Golota-Brewster should've been to unify three of the four belts. People complain a lot about boxers not fighting other top fighters. In this case, the fighters did their part. The judges just screwed it all up. Brewster would've become the IBF, WBA and WBO champ with that win if they had. Who knows how things change if that had been the case. Vitali (the WBC champ) was about to retire for three years. Wlad had already been KOed by Brewster. Would Brewster have been recognized as the "real" champ in 2005?
That's the only time in my adult life I went to bed and couldn't sleep after watching a fight. For the life of me, I thought I'd just watched Golota not only beat Ruiz and become champ ... but rid us of Norman Stone, as well. I don't think I ever took the sport quite as seriously ever again. Seriously.
Golota was in Don King's stable. Don't blame Don King. He managed to get Golota in three straight title fights. King likely wanted Golota to win. Golota was grateful to King after his fiasco against Tyson. Nobody really wanted Golota after that. But King signed him. Unlike Golota, Byrd and Ruiz were always complaining. The judges just screwed it up. It was on them. After the two robberies against Byrd and Ruiz at MSG, King even got the Brewster fight in Golota's adopted hometown of Chicago. And you don't often see a guy who lost two straight title challenges getting a third straight title challenge, in his own hometown, no less. King was looking out for him. Brewster just blew him away.
I had Golota beating Ruiz and Byrd as well. Although Ruiz was more egregious. And a draw is never as bad as a loss. Funny if Golota had just kept his hands from going south in 1 of the 2 Bowe fights and got the verdicts justly in both of these bouts I believe he’d be in the Hof. Instead of just a nut job with no mental fortitude. And it’s a great point of Brewster blows Golota away with 3 belts on the line on top of defeating Wlad already he skyrockets up all time ratings instead of being mostly remembered as 1 hit wonder like Rahman and Mccall.
Scoring the Byrd fight again later though I believe I did score it for Golota as well. At least there is going to be some slickness. Both fights were hilarious with Norman Stone and Byrd's wife scolding him for losing before the verdict.
Round 1 Ruiz 10-9 came out ultra aggressive Round 2 10-7 Golota. Golota dumps Ruiz with beautiful counter right hand. Puts Ruiz down second time as Ruiz falls trying to clinch with wobbly legs. Ruiz does land a few clubbing lead left hooks. Round 3 10-9 Golota - the ugliness begins with Ruiz throwing one big haymaker and trying to fall in and clinch. Excessively. Golota counters pretty well as Ruiz falls in catching with a few shots and then whacking his ribs with his free hand while in the clinch. Round 4. 10-8 Golota. Ruiz loses a point for spinning Golota and hitting him on the break. Otherwise an ugly round with excessive holding from Ruiz. Round 5 10-9 Ruiz - toss up round. Thought Ruiz landed best punch before the break in action to repair Ruiz’s tape job. Norman Stone horribly abusing the ref. What a clown Round 6 10-9 Golota painful to watch. I gave round to Golota because of Ruiz’s excessive holding. He must of stuck his head under Golota’s armpit 15 times in the round. Referee Randy Newman tells him he’s going to hurt himself he continues to clinch that way. But does not issue a warning - which I think would of been more then fare at this point. Newman doing fine job so far. Harold Letterman shows his score so far it’s identical to mine Round 7 10-9 Golota. Toss up round - I gave Golota as he finally begins to Jab and the jabs land consistently. (I know his jab was diminished at this point from an accident) on flip side Ruiz does land at least 4 good clubbing body shots and a right cross near end of round. Letterman gives ^ this round to Ruiz Round 8 10-9Ruiz Ruiz best round since round 1. Lands two good combinations and one good hook. Round marred by his trainer being ejected. By this point however if I was The referee Ruiz would of lost at least one additional point for excessive holding. Such a negative fighter. Round 9 10-9 Ruiz. A fight breaks out. Golota does hurt Ruiz with a body shot and Ruiz a little fortunate that he goes down in clinch but it is ruled a slip. Ruiz does win most of the exchanges in this round Round 10 10-9 Golota close. Golota has best round in awhile landing crisp combinations but nearly gives it away eating 3 huge punches in final 10 seconds. Round 11 10-9 Golota clear and clean Round 12 10-9 Ruiz clean and clear more active and landed better punches. Golota 115 Ruiz 110 Ruiz should of lost more at least 1 additional point for excessive holding but good job by ref keeping his composure. If I swing my two closest rounds that I scored for Golota in favor of Ruiz rounds 7 and 10 I would still have Golota winning 113-112 side not Ruiz reminds of Luis Firpo in style
