by Frank Gonzalez Jr.
11/14 - Saturday night in NYC, Andrew Golota returned to the place that made him famous—Madison Square Garden, where eight years ago, he fought former Heavyweight Champion, Riddick Bowe in a fight that made him famous. He lost to Bowe in a fight he was winning because of repeated low blows. This time, eight years later, the opponent was WBA Champion, John Ruiz. It’s said that, ‘styles make fights’ and the combination of Ruiz and Golota promised to be a wild event.

Ruiz’ style is awkward and hard on the eyes but he wins fights. He’s a scrappy fighter who doesn’t get as much credit as he deserves for his tenacity in the ring and the heart he brings to the ring. He’s not much of a talker and maybe that’s why he calls himself, “The Quiet Man,” which reminds me of the classic John Wayne movie about an American Boxer who goes back home to Ireland and tames a wild red headed shrew after brawling with her brother from one side of town to the other. Like him or not, Ruiz is the holder of a major piece of the HW title and taking it from him would be no easy job.

Strong and athletic, 36 year-old Andrew Golota would have been the HW Champion had he been more disciplined in July of 1996 when he was clearly beating Riddick Bowe but managed to get himself disqualified instead. When they had a rematch in Atlantic City in December of that same year, it was ‘de ja vu’ all over again when low blows got Golota DQ’d again…in a fight he was easily winning.

After Bowe, Golota faced Lennox Lewis and was KO’d in the first round. Things weren’t looking so good for Andrew after that but he put together six consecutive wins against mediocre fighters. In November of 1999, he faced Michael Grant and scored two knock downs in the first round but went on to lose that fight by TKO in the tenth round. After that loss, he fought a couple of easy fights.

In October of 2000, he faced Mike Tyson, who TKO’d him in three rounds in a fight where Golota looked to be emotionally unstable. That result was changed to a No Contest after it was determined that Tyson tested positive for Marijuana use. After the Tyson fight, Golota left Boxing for almost three years. He returned in 2003 and TKO’d his first two opponents, Brian Nix and Terrence Lewis. It’s my opinion that Golota beat Chris Byrd in April of this year but was robbed by the Judges. To his credit, Golota has recently fought cleanly and has been effective.

Andrew Golota vs. John Ruiz
(38-4-1-31 KO’s) (41-5-1-28 KO’s)

The Fight

Round 1
Ruiz came out swinging aggressively and landed some good shots to start the fight. Golota remained composed and landed some decent punches in return. Ruiz took to clinching. They slugged it out in the corner as the round came to a close. After the bell, Ruiz threw a short punch to Golota’s face. Golota retaliated. The referee Randy Newman got between them.

Ruiz’ trainer, Norman Stone jumped into the ring and ran towards Golota’s trainer, Sam Colonna, with his fist balled up. At the least, Stone should have been severely warned for his actions, perhaps even ejected for his over-reactive, unprofessional behavior. 10-9 Ruiz.

Round 2
Ruiz landed a right hand followed by another right to the face of Golota, pressing him into the ropes. After a break from a clinch, Ruiz pressed Golota against the ropes. Golota landed a perfectly timed right cross that put Ruiz on his seat. Ruiz got up quickly as the ref counted.

When action resumed, Ruiz landed another right. Golota later pushed Ruiz to the canvas during another clinch. After pushing him, he punched him on the head. It was called a knock down even though it was not a legal knock down since he didn’t go down from the punch but from the push that preceded the punch. Ruiz got up and they brawled and hugged. During the clinches, Golota was punching the sides of Ruiz’ body. Ruiz suffered a cut on his forehead. Near the end of the round, Ruiz landed a stiff left that stunned Golota, who shoe-shined Ruiz into the ropes in retaliation. 10-7 Golota.

Round 3
Ruiz was aggressively hitting and then holding. Golota was upright and focused and landed some good shots but nothing flush. Both scored in spots between all the roughhousing that was going on. Newman separated them at one point and warned them both that he’d take a point from the next guy who fouled.

There was a large contingent of Polish Golota fans waving red flags all around Madison Square Garden. NYC has a large Hispanic population, many of which were at the Garden rooting for Ruiz. Fights were breaking out all over the arena. The security guards at the Garden had their work cut out for them Saturday night.

Ruiz charged into Golota, throwing a punch, and then holding. Golota punched Ruiz while the ref was telling them to break—a foul. Newman didn’t discipline Golota for the “next foul” like he said he would. With all the holding, it was hard to score this round but Golota was the sharper puncher. 10-9 Golota.

Round 4
They boxed in the center ring. Golota landed, Ruiz landed back. During a clinch, Ruiz fouled Golota, hitting the back of his head as the ref yelled for them to break. Newman took a point from Ruiz. In another clinch, Golota was holding Ruiz and pulling back and Ruiz slipped to the canvas on his knees. It was rightly called a slip. This was a wild and dirty fight inspired mostly by Ruiz’ hit and hold tactics. For Golota’s part, he was fighting pretty cleanly. But any fight with Ruiz is a clinch-fest where things tend to get ugly. Whenever they would end a clinch, Golota would point his elbow up defensively to cover his face with his glove while presenting a dangerous incidental weapon if Ruiz didn’t back off. Golota caught Ruiz with a few good shots during the clinches. After the bell, Ruiz threw extra punches again. The ref broke it up. 10-8 Golota.

Round 5
Using his superior boxing skills, Golota set up with his jab and followed up with punches. Ruiz constantly clinched, wrestling Golota into the ropes and punching in between holds. The ref called a time out to address loose tape on one of Ruiz’ gloves. His trainer, Norman Stone came up and started shouting obscenities at Newman (surely for taking a point from Ruiz earlier). “What a piece of shit you turned out to be! You got no balls you cock sucker!”

Then he finally taped Ruiz’ glove. It was a disgraceful display on Stone’s part.

As action resumed, Golota hit Ruiz during a break by Newman. Ruiz turned away expecting the ref to discipline Golota as he did him. “That was nothing.” The ref said dismissingly. Ruiz protested. “Lets go!” Newman barked. A moment later Ruiz protested again about Golota hitting him behind his head but Newman didn’t listen. There was a lot of roughhousing going on from both guys. But only Ruiz had been disciplined at that point. Golota was landing the cleaner shots. After the round, Newman warned Stone about his behavior. 10-9 Golota.

Round 6
The sloppiness continued, as Ruiz would throw a punch, and then hold. Golota kept allowing Ruiz to hold. It takes two to hold. Golota punched more on the inside during clinches instead of from the outside where he would have found a better range. Ruiz was neutralizing Golota’s boxing ability by staying close to him. This was the most boring round and neither did better then the other. 10-10 Even.

Round 7
Golota boxed from the outside and landed some decent punches. With Golota keeping Ruiz away from him, he was more effective and limited Ruiz ability to clinch. Golota landed more frequently though neither did too much in the seventh. 10-9 Golota.

Round 8
Ruiz was backing up as they boxed. Golota hit on the break again but the ref did nothing. Ruiz landed a left hook flush to Golota’s cheek but Andrew took it well. Ruiz’ glove was dripping a tail of tape. Newman called a time out so Ruiz corner could tape his glove. Stone came up with a roll of tape that he couldn’t get started. He was taking a LONG time.

Stone handed the tape to Newman, who said, “I’m not going to do it!” Stone called him a “Fucking jerk off” and that was enough for Newman, who ordered Stone be ejected from the corner. Stone threatened to sue the ref as he made his way away from the ring. Stone told one of his seconds to take over then walked up to a an official and said, “I never said anything to him.” Which was a lie. Then as Stone passed Don King, who was seated at ringside, he leaned over and whispered to King, “This looks like a fixed fight.” King said nothing.

When action resumed, Ruiz looked sharper as he neutralized Golota’s range by staying close. Ruiz landed a left as the bell rang. They continued to fight after the bell. Newman broke it up. 10-9 Ruiz.

Round 9
Golota’s face is swollen, particularly around his right eye. A clinch-fest ensues. Fights were breaking out all over the arena. Fans were looking in all directions as at least 4 other fights were going on in the audience. Neither fighter was distracted and stayed focused on each other. Ruiz landed a left-right combo. Golota landed a good body shot. During a scuffle, Ruiz went down, it was rightly called a slip as Golota was holding him while pulling back. Ruiz landed a flush left hook that cut Golota’s skin by the corner of his right eye, then a right hand that rocked Golota, followed by a flurry of punches that scored well. Golota came back landing a left to Ruiz’ jaw. They traded. Ruiz got the better of it. Blood flowed from Golota’s face as the round ended. 10-9 Ruiz.

Round 10
Ruiz got real busy and looked to attack the cut on Golota’s right eye. Golota landed a nice left, right to Ruiz’ face. Ruiz stayed close and nullified Golota’s reach advantage. The ref called a time out again to fix loose tape on both fighter’s gloves.

Ruiz was busier, attacking the body, landing combos and stunned Golota just before the bell. Golota kept fighting after the bell and landed a punch to the top of Ruiz head that knocked him down. The ref didn’t count the knock down since it happened AFTER the bell. He didn’t discipline Golota either for the foul of hitting after the bell. Strange. 10-9 Ruiz.

Round 11
After the starting bell, Newman sent both to neutral corners as he wiped the wet canvas with a towel. The clock ticked away. Action resumed as Ruiz landed a left hook as Golota was in the corner. Golota hit Ruiz on the back of the head twice. The ref warned him but didn’t take any point from him. Polish fans chanted something in Polish. The crowd was electric. Ruiz again neutralized Golota with his awkward style and in-close fighting. Golota landed a stinging body shot that hurt Ruiz near the close of the round. Ruiz landed the better shots. 10-9 Ruiz.

Round 12
Reluctantly, they touched gloves to start the final round. Ruiz immediately clinches after throwing two punches. Ruiz landed a nice right hand, and then clinched. Golota showed a hell of a chin taking some of Ruiz best shots but Golota was not landing enough of his own to win the round. The final bell sounded and Golota raised his arm in victory. Ruiz walked quietly to his corner. 10-9 Ruiz.

The Official Judges scored it:

Frank Lombardi...113-112 for Ruiz

Oscar Perez...114-111 for Ruiz

Tom Schreck...114-111 for Ruiz

Punch Stats:
Total Punches
Ruiz- 121 landed, 406 thrown at 30%

Golota- 152 landed, 387 thrown at 39%

Power Punches
Ruiz- 84 landed, 251 thrown at 33%

Golota- 93 landed, 234 thrown at 40%

* * *

Ruiz won six rounds, lost four rounds with one round even. Golota won five rounds, lost six rounds with one round even. Golota knocked Ruiz down twice in the second round and Ruiz had a point deducted in the fourth. How could Ruiz win the fight without scoring a knock down if he only won one more round then Golota? Though this was not an easy fight to score with all the holding and sloppiness, unless Ruiz completely dominated Golota for seven rounds, there was no way he could win. This was a pretty close fight and neither dominated the other although Golota scored better in his winning rounds then Ruiz, who never won more then one point per round.

Golota was robbed again. Two Judges scored it 114-111? I can’t see how. Those scores reflect something that didn’t happen Saturday night. A Draw would have been questionable but more realistic then Ruiz winning a Unanimous Decision in a fight where did not dominate his opponent, was floored twice and lost a point.

Trying to analyze Ruiz performance is not too hard. He throws a punch, then holds and tries to punch with his free hand inside. He has respectable power and is tenacious in his own awkward way. His weakness is his nose. If a fighter can make his nose bleed, Ruiz stamina drains and leaves him more vulnerable. Golota never did catch Ruiz’ nose, which was surprising.

Golota is a conventional fighter who has respectable boxing skills, good power and a pretty good chin. He is patient and needs to be in the right range to effectively land his big punches. When he does, guys usually go down. When he doesn’t, he still scores, only not as impressively. His weakness is his inability to find and maintain his proper range. In the past, his weakness was his lack of mental discipline. Ruiz never frustrated Golota mentally, which was surprising.

It was an entertaining fight even though the result was questionable.

In retrospect, maybe Norman Stone was right when he told Don King he thought the fight looked like a fix—but in the opposite direction that Stone was implying.

* * *

Agree or disagree? Comments can be sent to dshark87@hotmail.com

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