In April 1995 he fought 290 pound Samoan Samson Po'Uha, considered to be one of the hardest punchers in the world. A quite remarkable brawl saw Golota send the mighty Samoan to the canvas five times before the referee called a halt in the fifth round. A year later he made national news when he battered Dannel Nicholson, a highly rated boxer, to defeat in eight rounds.
All you need is Real Player Unless Golota could turn in two or three impressive performances against rated opponents he would be destined to be the latest in a long line of failed 'Great White Hopes'.
GOLOTA - GRANT
BOWE - GOLOTA
In July 1996 he outclassed former champ Riddick Bowe, Golota was way ahead on points, before indiscipline led to his disqualification for low punches; the brawl which followed (in which Golota took no part) dragged the sport into the gutter. Five months later the inevitable re-match ended in the same way, again after Bowe had been completely out-boxed.
BOWE - GOLOTA II
For seven rounds, Riddick Bowe
and Andrew Golota battled in one of the most controversial fights in sports history. Never
had a boxing event been at the center of so many issues, so much speculation and so
much doubt. Turning on a dime in the seventh round, a low blow turned a potential
upset into a victory for Bowe-- leaving millions of people asking questions.
Fight fans wondered had the first fight been a fluke or was it destiny, and they were anxious for a
rematch. The promoter Main Events set the date for December 14, 1996. The event, titled Bowe-Golota II,
carried the subtitle, "millions have questions, only two men have the answers." When December 14th arrived,
Bowe and Golota were both looking to erase the events of that night, and give the world the answers to all
those questions. But while there were expectations, no one could have predicted what would actually happen.
Just as before, the action was intense! First Bowe was down on the canvas then Golota was down,
but Andrew came back to take charge of the bout. Bowe was behind on the judges' scorecards and
Golota, still the underdog, was clearly in command. Golota looked unstoppable and ready to take the win.
Though Bowe appeared tired, the former undisputed champion demonstrated with heart why he is a true champion.
On the road to what seemed certain victory, Golota sabotaged himself just as he had six months earlier.
Plagued by his inability to keep punches above the belt, thirty seconds before the bell in the ninth round,
the referee called the fight. Bowe, doubled over and writhing in pain, managed once again
to leave the ring with the win.
LEWIS - GOLOTA
Wanna see the Golota-Lewis weigh-in?
If you are using a slower modem, click here 28.8
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On October 4, 1997, Golota's credibility as a genuine contender was blown apart when he battled Lennox Lewis for Lewis' WBC Heavyweight crown. Early in round one Golota was caught with a devastating overhand right. As every fight fan knows, it takes only one punch to alter the momentum in a heavyweight bout. Golota was unable to survive the round, forcing referee Joe Cortez to stop the bout midway through round one.
After suffering the disappointing knockout loss, Golota rebounded on April 14, 1998 to stop Eli Dixon in round six with a crippling body blow (KO 6).
On May 8, 1998, just three weeks after winning by KO over Eli Dixon, Golota crushed Jack Basting in three rounds (TKO 3).
The former stripper Basting had no chance against a hungry Golota.
GOLOTA - SANDERS
On July 21, 1998, Golota thrust himself back into the heavyweight title picture with a 10 round pummelling of Corey Sanders (W 10).
Golota repeatedly rocked Sanders throughout the bout, nearly stopping the courageous challenger in round two after opening a huge gash above his left eye midway through the round.
The gash later required 28-stitches.
In what was clearly Golota's best performance since Bowe-Golota II, Golota crippled Sanders with three and four punch combinations, and utilized superior ring generalship to dominate the bout.
The fight, which was broadcast live on USA's "Tuesday Night Fights," brought the boxing program its highest television rating in two years.
GOLOTA - WITHERSPOON
Following his victory over Sanders, Golota traveled to Wroclaw, Poland to box for the
first time in his homeland since turning pro in February, 1992.
On October 2, 1998, in front of a frenzied Polish crowd, Golota dominated Tim Witherspoon
to capture a unanimous decision (W 10). Golota's superior jab frustrated Witherspoon,
while his crisp combinations punished the former two-time heavyweight champion. Following
the bout "Terrible" Tim expressed respect for Golota: "Andrew is the
strongest fighter that I've ever fought. The right hand that he hit me with in the eighth
round was the hardest punch that I've ever been hit with.
On January 30, 1999, Golota outboxed Jesse "Boogieman" Ferguson
to capture a unanimous decision on HBO's "Boxing After Dark" program (W 10).
Golota landed slicing combinations at will, opening cuts over both of Ferguson's eyes and
leaving the tough veteran's face swollen and bruised.
On June 26, 1999, Golota trounced Quinn Navarre in six rounds (TKO 6).
The Polish native bombarded Navarre in round five with a battery of left hooks and
overhand rights, staggering the tough challenger and nearly stopping him before the bell
sounded ending the round. Navarre answered the bell for round six, but was sent reeling
again thanks to two hard rights and a crushing left hook that forced him to turn his back
to referee Steve Smogger in a gesture of surrender. The victory was Golota's sixth
straight.
On November 20, 1999, Golota was stopped in 10 rounds by NABF heavyweight
champion Michael Grant (TKOby 10).
Golota dominated the majority of the bout, flooring
Grant twice in round one on his way to building a five point lead under the newly
installed majority scoring system. However, midway through round 10, Grant dropped Golota
with a crushing overhand right followed by a flurry of more than 10 punches. Golota rose
to his feet quickly at the count of two, but elected not to continue, believing that he
was hopelessly behind on the judges' scorecards.
On April 22, 2000, Golota floored Marcus Rhode four times
to earn a third round stoppage (TKO 3). Golota battered Rhode in
rounds two and three, nearly knocking the St. Joe, Missouri native
out of the ring on one
Determined to battle once again for a world title, Golota is working twice as hard to earn another shot at greatness.
