Maple Leaf
Mentor
Anrew Golota/Riddick Bowe -1
Bowe thought at the time he was the next big thing. Black U.S. heavyweights had dominated heavyweight boxing for a long time. The Eastern Europeans had not been allowed to compete professionally leaving the Americans unchallenged. Golota had come to Chicago after an excellent amateur career with Soviet Poland. Golota was the first of the big Easterners to break through and he was built and fought like a King Tiger tank. Golota was beating Bowe in every round, blasting him with long and short range shells. Bowe was collapsing under the heavy fire. But Golota was frustrated that the referee was favouring Bowe and Bowe's corner was really working the referee with their heckling. Suddenly in round 7 Golota accidently fired a light pistol shot below the belt and Bowe dove for the canvas to try and save himself from a very humiliating defeat. The referee, upon seeing Bowe collapse, immediately disqualified Golota. Not only had Bowe been beaten but he had been pistol whipped as well. The symbolism behind the beating inflamed and infuriated Bowe's corner and they went berzerk and started a riot which spread out into the crowd. A classic fight and a classic riot. Golota would go on to fight a rematch with Bowe and lay a second beating on him but this second fight also ended in a disqualification for a low blow but without the riot. Golota ruined Bowe's career.
Tommy Morrison/Donovan Ruddock
This fight featured "The Duke" Morrison against "Razor" Ruddock. Morrison was a rising star who was riding a string of knockouts. He was a classic power puncher. With his impressive victories and success he was given a lot of media attention in the U.S. for two main reasons: one, he is supposedly related in some way to John Wayne -that is where the nickname "The Duke" came from, and, second, he was a really good white heavyweight at a time when there were very few white boxers competing in the marquee weight class. Despite all of this Morrison remained modest and did not demand that he be treated like a Hollywood star nor did he disparage his opponents. Ruddock, on the other hand, was delusional about his own success in the ring and hired a team as his entourage to follow him around like he was royalty. Ruddock supported his delusions with a braggart's mouth. Morrison shut Ruddock's mouth for him. Actually he wired it shut with a legendary left hook. Don King panicked after this fight and would not allow a Tyson/Morrison clash.
Maskaev/Rahman -1
After Golota came Maskaev but this time from Russia. This fight was to become Maskaev's signature fight. Rahman was decent but his fans hurled insults at Maskaev during the weigh-in. Maskeav did not let anything bother him and he just smiled. Rahman had not done his research for this fight as it is said that he regarded Maskaev as weak competition.Was he in for a suprise. They fought a close battle but Rahman found out he could not keep Maskaev off of him. Rahman had a look on his face that suggested: "What the hell have I got myself into?" Maskaev knew he was not going to win a decision in Vegas unless it was blatantly obvious he was winning. In the eighth round Maskaev sent Rahman through the ropes, on the media tables with their monitors and microphones, and onto the floor with a right hand rocket. A very large group of spectators -perhaps hundreds- started rioting and rumbling in the crowd thereafter like English soccer hooligans scuffing it up after their team loses. Golota unlocked the door while Maskaev threw away the key.
Calzaghe/Lacy
Most boxing writers in Britain knew how good Calzaghe was prior to the Lacy fight. Calzaghe's skills, speed, and record spoke for themselves. But North American writers frankly had not done their homework and thought of Calzaghe as a "soft European", a hyped fighter with a pumped up record. Calzaghe was supposed to have met his match when he was to face Lacy who many in North America thought was supposed to be the next Hagler. Most professional writers were shocked at how fast and elusive Calzaghe was and how utter clumsy and awkward Lacy looked against Calzaghe who launched a masterfull display of boxing for twelve rounds. This fight gave the North American sports media a reality check.
Glen Johnson/Roy Jones Junior
It is now well known that Jones Jr. was seroid user. His success in the ring will always be tainted because he had unfair advantages that others did not. In other words he was a cheater. Can anyone imagine how strong and fast Calzaghe would have been had he taken steroids? In spite of his advantages, Jones Jr. mostly seemed to fight men that we all knew he could handle easily. It was not enought that he cheated but that he would not put himself to the test enough with real toughies. But as bad as those offences were, Jones Jr. could top those with his despicable taunting of his opponents in the ring. When Johson, a man who fought fair and played by the rules, knocked Jones Jr. unconscious in the ninth round it was the end of the Jones Jr. superman myth. Without the steroids Jones Jr. was just another win some and lose some fighter. A clean and drug free Calzaghe fought Jones Jr. four years later and out-boxed him like a sparring partner.
Edited by: Maple Leaf
Bowe thought at the time he was the next big thing. Black U.S. heavyweights had dominated heavyweight boxing for a long time. The Eastern Europeans had not been allowed to compete professionally leaving the Americans unchallenged. Golota had come to Chicago after an excellent amateur career with Soviet Poland. Golota was the first of the big Easterners to break through and he was built and fought like a King Tiger tank. Golota was beating Bowe in every round, blasting him with long and short range shells. Bowe was collapsing under the heavy fire. But Golota was frustrated that the referee was favouring Bowe and Bowe's corner was really working the referee with their heckling. Suddenly in round 7 Golota accidently fired a light pistol shot below the belt and Bowe dove for the canvas to try and save himself from a very humiliating defeat. The referee, upon seeing Bowe collapse, immediately disqualified Golota. Not only had Bowe been beaten but he had been pistol whipped as well. The symbolism behind the beating inflamed and infuriated Bowe's corner and they went berzerk and started a riot which spread out into the crowd. A classic fight and a classic riot. Golota would go on to fight a rematch with Bowe and lay a second beating on him but this second fight also ended in a disqualification for a low blow but without the riot. Golota ruined Bowe's career.
Tommy Morrison/Donovan Ruddock
This fight featured "The Duke" Morrison against "Razor" Ruddock. Morrison was a rising star who was riding a string of knockouts. He was a classic power puncher. With his impressive victories and success he was given a lot of media attention in the U.S. for two main reasons: one, he is supposedly related in some way to John Wayne -that is where the nickname "The Duke" came from, and, second, he was a really good white heavyweight at a time when there were very few white boxers competing in the marquee weight class. Despite all of this Morrison remained modest and did not demand that he be treated like a Hollywood star nor did he disparage his opponents. Ruddock, on the other hand, was delusional about his own success in the ring and hired a team as his entourage to follow him around like he was royalty. Ruddock supported his delusions with a braggart's mouth. Morrison shut Ruddock's mouth for him. Actually he wired it shut with a legendary left hook. Don King panicked after this fight and would not allow a Tyson/Morrison clash.
Maskaev/Rahman -1
After Golota came Maskaev but this time from Russia. This fight was to become Maskaev's signature fight. Rahman was decent but his fans hurled insults at Maskaev during the weigh-in. Maskeav did not let anything bother him and he just smiled. Rahman had not done his research for this fight as it is said that he regarded Maskaev as weak competition.Was he in for a suprise. They fought a close battle but Rahman found out he could not keep Maskaev off of him. Rahman had a look on his face that suggested: "What the hell have I got myself into?" Maskaev knew he was not going to win a decision in Vegas unless it was blatantly obvious he was winning. In the eighth round Maskaev sent Rahman through the ropes, on the media tables with their monitors and microphones, and onto the floor with a right hand rocket. A very large group of spectators -perhaps hundreds- started rioting and rumbling in the crowd thereafter like English soccer hooligans scuffing it up after their team loses. Golota unlocked the door while Maskaev threw away the key.
Calzaghe/Lacy
Most boxing writers in Britain knew how good Calzaghe was prior to the Lacy fight. Calzaghe's skills, speed, and record spoke for themselves. But North American writers frankly had not done their homework and thought of Calzaghe as a "soft European", a hyped fighter with a pumped up record. Calzaghe was supposed to have met his match when he was to face Lacy who many in North America thought was supposed to be the next Hagler. Most professional writers were shocked at how fast and elusive Calzaghe was and how utter clumsy and awkward Lacy looked against Calzaghe who launched a masterfull display of boxing for twelve rounds. This fight gave the North American sports media a reality check.
Glen Johnson/Roy Jones Junior
It is now well known that Jones Jr. was seroid user. His success in the ring will always be tainted because he had unfair advantages that others did not. In other words he was a cheater. Can anyone imagine how strong and fast Calzaghe would have been had he taken steroids? In spite of his advantages, Jones Jr. mostly seemed to fight men that we all knew he could handle easily. It was not enought that he cheated but that he would not put himself to the test enough with real toughies. But as bad as those offences were, Jones Jr. could top those with his despicable taunting of his opponents in the ring. When Johson, a man who fought fair and played by the rules, knocked Jones Jr. unconscious in the ninth round it was the end of the Jones Jr. superman myth. Without the steroids Jones Jr. was just another win some and lose some fighter. A clean and drug free Calzaghe fought Jones Jr. four years later and out-boxed him like a sparring partner.
Edited by: Maple Leaf
