Golota Quits Before Third Round
A U B U R N H I L L S, Mich., Oct. 21, 2000 -- Mike Tyson won amid a chorus of boosthat poured down when Andrew Golota quit before the start of thethird round in their heavyweight match Friday night in the Palaceof Auburn Hills.
Golota was knocked down by a right hand late in the first roundbut got through the second round.
Then, just before the start of the third round, Golota left hiscorner and was told to return to by referee Frank Garza. He pushedthe referee, and Golota then signaled he was finished.
Tyson cursed at Golota, who left the ring under a shower of beerand popcorn.
It was a very unsatisfactory ending to what had the makings ofan interesting fight.The crowd of 16,228 continued to voice its displeasure whenTyson was announced as the winner.
Tyson Not to Blame This Time
Trainer Al Certo hollered to Golota, “What are you doing?”when Golota left his corner. He tried to guide Golota back to hiscorner, and when he tried to insert the mouthpiece, Golota pushedhim away.
Golota’s purse was $2.2 million, while Tyson made $10 million.
It was another controversial ending to a Tyson fight, but thistime the blame did not lie with Iron Mike.
The fight started as all Tyson bouts do with the formerundisputed heavyweight champion charging out seeking to end itquickly
He was wild—although he opened a cut over Golota’s left eye.Then, with 12 seconds remaining in the round, Tyson crashed a righthand to the head that toppled Golota.
Golota got up immediately and took the mandatory eight count,then the bell saved him from further punishment.
The second round was marked by a lot of clinching, althoughTyson got in a couple of hard head shots and one solid left jab tothe face.
A Good, Clean Fight
There were no dirty tactics by either fighter, who have earnedreputations for breaking the rules.
“I plan to fight clean as much as possible,” Golota saidbefore the fight.
It turned out he didn’t have much fight in him—clean or dirty- at all.
The fight wasn’t the kind Tyson was looking for, but it was avictory and he fought hard.
The loss has to end Golota’s status as a contender or anattraction in the heavyweight division.
The 32-year-old native of Poland living in Chicago also quitagainst Michael Grant after being knocked down in the 10th round ofa fight Golota was winning last Nov. 20.The victory was the fourth straight for Tyson, excluding ano-contest against Orlin Norris, since he was disqualified in thethird round for biting Evander Holyfield’s ears June 28, 1997.
Tyson has often talked about fighting heavyweight championLennox Lewis, but at the weigh-in Thursday, he said this was hislast fight. That announcement was greeted by considerable doubt.
The 34-year-old Tyson, who weighed 222 pounds, now is 49-3 with43 knockouts. It listed as a TKO 3.
Golota, 240, now is 36-5 with 29 knockouts.