Tweet
Today, a Polish-born idol of millions celebrates one of the most important birthdays in his life. Retired heavyweight Andrew Golota turns 50 years old. What makes his milestone even more appreciable is that unlike many elite fighters, Golota walked away from the ring on his own terms as one of the most popular Eastern European boxers in history.
To give credence to his larger-than-life hero status in his native land, let us be reminded that the Polish warrior has some worthwhile accomplishments which he seldom is given credit for in America. In honor of his 50th birthday, I will take boxing fans on a journey through Andrzej's accolades. It is his special day, he deserves his just due.
Writers and experts who see Andrew Golota at fights these days, especially when Polish boxers are in the ring, will tell you that people still come up to him. He is admired in such a way that it leads one to conclude that he might as well have been the first Polish heavyweight champion of the world. Alongside Solidarity movement leader Lech Walesa and Blessed Pope John Paul II, Golota is one of the most well-known Polish people in the world, standing tallest among his famous countrymen as the only boxer.
The final fight of Golota’s long and illustrious boxing career came in 2013, a KO at the hands of countryman Przemyslaw Saleta in an action-packed war. The 1988 Olympic bronze medalist, to this day still one of the sport's biggest curiosities, had a roller-coaster of a career filled with highs and lows. But the final chapter of his career against Saleta, despite the stoppage loss, was not one of the lows. Golota and his opponent exchanged in back-and-forth, give-and-take savagery before 14,000 fervent fans cheering on the war.
The 6-foot-4-inch Warsaw-born heavyweight bowed out in style, and although other 200-plus-pounders like Kownacki, Wach, and Ugonoh continue to don the country's white and red national colors on their trunks, there is no doubt as to who the greatest Polish heavyweight that ever laced up a pair of padded gloves is. That would be the native of Warsaw.
A sports legend in Poland, he remains the country's most famous boxer in history. It all began when he won a heavyweight bronze medal as an amateur at the 1988 Seoul Olympics (medaling at the Olympics arguably is the biggest achievement in boxing in today's fragmented landscape). At those Games, Lou Duva got his first look at Golota, who he would later train. Also competing in the boxing events at those Olympics were Lennox Lewis, Riddick Bowe, and Ray Mercer. Duva later said that while watching that tournament, he believed that among those four outstanding fighters, Golota was the toughest and possessed the best punch. Duva believed Golota would be the one who would become the best professional and star at the top of the sport's totem pole.
Golota became the first Polish boxing superstar as he fought the best in the world, all the while developing a mass following that made him into a cult figure, an influence that spread so rapidly it prompted many Polish youth to take up the sport. The height of Andrew's success and fame came during the mid-late 1990s. By that time, Golota was already a top star in his native country thanks to the Bowe fights which made his stock rise exponentially. Golota soon became the first and only Polish fighter to grace the cover of Ring Magazine, boxing's most prestigious publication. Also, he was the first Pole to appear on the cover of Boxing News and graced the cover of other prestigious publications such as KO Magazine and World Boxing, becoming the first and only Pole to ever appear on the cover of those respective magazines. Other prestigious and leading periodicals in the boxing industry that Golota was featured on on the front cover include Boxing Monthly and International Boxing Digest.
In 1996, Golota became the first Pole to fight on HBO, the network known for its tradition of excellence in showcasing the sport's best talents and biggest fights. He made his debut already as the main event headliner on "Night of the Young Heavyweights" against "Doc" Nicholson, who was training under the great Emanuel Steward at Kronk Gym. Andrew scored an eighth round TKO, but observers again pointed to him having a wanton side. He headbutted Danell as the fight was heading into the later rounds. Other young big boys of boxing featured on this card attempting to reach the summit of the heavyweight division included David Tua, Shannon Briggs, and John "The Quiet Man" Ruiz.
Bowe-Golota I was held on July 11, 1996, in "The Mecca of Boxing," Madison Square Garden. Golota became the first Polish boxer to fight in the latest version of the historic venue. MSG, boxing's holy of holies, also was the site of the biggest achievement of the decorated Polish amateur – fighting Chris Byrd to a 12-round draw. That draw means he achieved the best result in a world heavyweight prizefight among all Polish heavyweights who ever fought for a piece of the division’s crown. Boxing history is divided into multifarious parts, but prior to the mid-1990s, not a single chapter was reserved for being Polish for it was a pedigree that did not resonate in heavyweight history. Golota began changing all of that for he began pioneering a title path in America that was then trekked by Sosnowski, Adamek, Wach, Wawrzyk, Szpilka, Ugonoh, and now Kownacki, who is back in action on Showtime on January 20th. The hope, of course, is that one day a giant man from Poland will finally emerge as a world champion. It is a hope shared by fans in western Europe and Latin America. Just as there has never been a Polish heavyweight champion, so too has there never been a French or a Mexican heavyweight titlist, a drought prolonged by current WBC claimant Deontay Wilder, who in recent times denied all three demographic groups a shot at boxing history.
Andrew was among the leaders of the first Eastern European wave of heavyweights and was the face of that movement before the Klitschkos burst onto the scene. Golota is a link between the former Soviet Bloc countries and boxing success in the U.S. Various other factors also opened the door for this rise, but the Pole's professional profile put American promoters on notice following the two now-classic battles with Bowe which sent shock waves through the sport. In all, Andrew's impact on boxing in Eastern Europe — especially on millions of fans in Poland — is well documented as today within the country he is considered the father of Polish professional boxing. The feral heavyweight is one of many to put his country on the boxing map, along with Peter Jackson (Virgin Islands), Alexis Arguello (Nicaragua), and Hogan "Kid" Bassey (Nigeria), among others.
Golota became the first Polish heavyweight to challenge for world title honors in professional boxing's glory division. Prior to the early 90s, athletes in Communist countries, like Poland, were banned from competing in professional sports. Golota emerged as the country's first real star not long after the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe, and would soon challenge Hall of Famer Lennox Lewis for a heavyweight title belt, a prize that was once the greatest trophy in sports. The list of greats that once held a piece of the crown is legendary – Ali, Louis, Marciano, Foreman – to name but a few. Considering that from the beginning boxing in Poland was done only at the amateur level and the collapse of Communism allowed boxers in most Iron Curtain countries to go pro, the historical undertone emanating from Golota even fighting for one of the sporting world's most prestigious titles was monumental. Fighting at this top championship level was a bold political and social statement despite the lopsided loss. The underlying symbolism spoke volumes to those who had finesse to realize it. Impact is in the eye of the beholder, and it depends on the area of the world and its boxing pedigree. So while what Golota achieved may be minuscule in some people's eyes, it is seen as colossal by other people.
The Polish master earned millions in his finest hour (the number one goal of every elite boxer) all the while inspiring his loyal fans to dream big. Again, his clash with Lewis for WBC laurels signifies a historic showdown for Polish professional boxing. The fight was a huge deal in Poland, and because Golota was contesting for the WBC's iconic green belt, his title bid felt significant. Even more sweet (for that time) is that the press and fans alike were pretty split on the bout prediction. Golota was seen by many as still being undefeated since his two duels with Bowe should have ended in Ws, while there were no shortage of critics who regarded Lewis as having been truly exposed in his first meeting with Oliver McCall. So there was certainly a motley mix of predictions heading into Lewis-Golota, which explains why Lewis was only a narrow 6-5 favorite. Despite the ignominious ending to the bout, looking back on it, Lewis is still quite a name to have on your resume if you are a Polish boxer and only history will judge Golota's right to the quick loss based in part on how the careers of Adam Kownacki and Izu Ugonoh unfold.
Golota's major bouts, held during prime time in the U.S. and televised in Poland in the wee hours of Sunday mornings, have inspired generations upon generations of native fighters and fans. His people extol him for being their first countryman abroad to really make waves in professional boxing, so much so that nearly every male in Poland woke up in the middle of the night to watch their hero step into the ring against boxing's elite. From then on the figure of Golota acquired mythical proportions.
Does receiving a world title opportunity after overcoming a Communist regime equate to actually winning a title? While overcoming Communist rule is certainly overcoming a lot, in theory, it is hard to equate it to winning on the big international stage. From a boxing purist's point of view, anyway. But the truth is what that meant is up to interpretation of the people and what it means to them. The career story of prizefighters from ex-Communist countries transcends the extent of boxing reference and knowledge. Golota, whose story is that of tragedy and great unfulfilled promise, came from a place where boxing was outlawed for at least 45 years. Citizens of this nation have through generations come to know the feeling of being denied the chance at anything significant in all walks of life. Living in Communist times never equated to victory. The socialistic economic system eviscerated citizen privileges for decades. At one point, some Polish citizens likely thought they would never see the end of Communism. Luckily, beginning in 1989, they did. This end was a victory for the nation. By the same token, the same Poles (who are also boxing fans) who gave up hope on freedom only to be reignited during the first free parliamentary elections, can treat Golota's failed title challenge against Lewis as a victory as well. Think about that, Andrew's countrymen never thought they would see the day one of their own athletes is competing in professional gloved prizefighting, let alone see a countryman in heavyweight championship action. For the people of then-Communist Poland, that constitutes victory regardless of how controversial or flawed Golota might be.
The heavyweight division is known for its changing of the guards. But by not winning a trinket, Golota joins a pantheon of greats that never won a title either. If things panned out the opposite way and Golota did hold a major title, chances are he would never be mentioned among such central figures as Harry Wills, Joe Jeannette, Sam Langford, Ron Lyle, Jerry Quarry, among many others who also came up short in their quest to hold a piece of the crown. If anything, Golota's reign likely would have been short-lived after he managed to snatch a belt. But for that he would not go down among greats. That is not to say his loyal fans are satisfied with him never winning a championship belt. I would trade all of the fame and publicity from the Bowe fights for even one day as a world champion. Even if Golota went down among those who achieved only a modicum of championship success, together with Tony Tucker and Samuel Peter, it still would have been fully satisfying and sweet to know that despite everything, my favorite boxer had the honor of calling himself heavyweight champion.
How good was Golota and all other top contenders who never won an official title in the last 40 years? The answer to the question is this: They are better than you can ever imagine. For those of you who have trained in a gym before, you know what I mean and believe this. To reach the top ranks of professional boxing, Golota spent his entire life trading punches in the ring. He has had amazing, world-class trainers and he worked harder to improve his boxing game than most of us have worked on anything. In my eyes, any professional athlete who gets this far is a rarity, an exceptionally gifted individual. We can be as foolhardy as them, but chances are we will not be as successful. Think about the thousands of other young men and women from a certain place who are vying to reach the same level. Only one person from that respective place makes it. That speaks volumes.
Golota joined the likes of Arturo Godoy (Chile), Georges Carpentier (France), Luis Firpo (Argentina), Jose Roman (Puerto Rico), and Jorge Luis Gonzalez (Cuba) as boxers who made history for their respective nation by becoming the first from their country to step into the prize ring in an attempt to capture the most coveted title in boxing – a piece of the heavyweight crown. Being the first of anything significant carries its own glory. History will judge how immense the feat of just challenging for a world title truly is, and the respective nation's boxing pedigree will factor into that equation. Although a top contender fails to lay claim to the big prize that is the heavyweight strap, he fuels the spirit of competition. Only winning and becoming a heavyweight strap-holder would signify prestige, and nothing else. However, prestige is a matter of legitimacy. But these days, the sport has turned into a microcosm of money-hungry leaders (promoters, politicians, sponsors) that participants abiding by the Marquess of Queensberry rules have fallen victim to their own profession for they compete in a sport that has surrendered its own integrity and delegitimized its position as a sport. This is capable of flummoxing fans like nothing else. Boxing has turned money-driven and to that end become corrupt. Regardless of where in the world a fighter is from, the essential question to be asked is "what are you fighting for today"? Firpo and Golota were fighting for national pride, and won it big time. Firpo is still regarded with awe in Argentina, as is Golota in his own native land where no other Polish pugilist was nor is adored as much as he is. Sometimes people overrate the very first person to achieve something, but that is not the case with Golota in the world of professional boxing. His likely unrepairable reputation as a dirty fighter undermines his fine skills, ability, and worthwhile accomplishments.
As mentioned, two decades ago Eastern Europe was entering the boxing scene in fashion, and the talented hulk that is the subject of this piece (aka The Beast from the East) was representing a minority country in his run. The first wave of Russian boxers that made an impact during the 1990s was noteworthy to say the least. They paved the way for the successes of their descendants that we have seen in recent years. When evaluating the boxing pedigree of Poland and Russia at the professional level, Poland's pales in comparison. While both nations burst onto the scene during the 90s, Russia had a surfeit of fistic representatives. But for Poland, only Golota stood out as a prominent fighter (though to be fair, other pros such as Saleta and Marek Piotrowski were trying to make waves) but Andrew was alone in singlehandedly putting his country on the boxing map which suggests that he was ahead of his time and in a league of his own. Contrarily, when speaking in terms of the progression toward where the former Eastern Bloc (excluding Poland) is today, the group, as a whole, advanced the cause. Golota, however, did not have fellow counterparts to fall back on. There were not enough Poles fighting on his level yet to form their own wave. The days of Tomasz Adamek, Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, and Andrzej Fonfara were yet to come. Since these talented boxers did not come up together, it was a missed opportunity for Poland to have any chance of being considered a nation of fighting glory.
Today, Polish boxing is a huge growth market for the professional fight industry, with talents such as Patryk Szymanski and Maciej Sulecki waiting in the wings ready to prove just how hungry the young crop is after past generations of amateur standouts were trapped behind the Iron Curtain. Golota's meteoric rise to fame following the fall of the Berlin Wall triggered an exponential rise in both quality fighters and major boxing events in Poland, a modest breakthrough, begun in the mid-2000s. This ultimately set the tone for Poland finding a foothold for a huge growth market in the professional boxing industry. Further, it stands to reason that sudden business development may broaden boxing's relationship to the audience. On that point, Poland continues to grow in many walks of life courtesy of the boom associated with being part of the European Union (EU). Thinking ahead, much more funding is needed for the country's amateur program, as that remains the biggest problem hurting the sport there. That is why we see more Russian and Ukrainian boxers excelling in the ring than Polish (it all comes back to amateur development). That is why more money and resources must be allocated to amateur development which in the best case scenario will only trigger a revival of the glory amateur days Poland once enjoyed. It is a win-win, but until the powers that be decide to open their wallets, they should spend their cash on signing the right TV deals for young fighters who were fortunate enough to make it far so they are featured domestically and internationally. This way, a talent does not regress or get forlorningly lost in the mix. That said, this will provide the link between business and the boxing audience.
Who will vow to become a heavyweight threat in the prize ring and emulate his legendary compatriot Golota? Adam Kownacki throws a very high volume of punches and has very impressive accuracy but his weaknesses are too concerning (serious defensive flaws, poor footwork). Besides "Babyface," the only other potential heavyweight threat on the horizon is Izu Ugonoh, but he too must improve much of his game in order to have a shot at hanging in with the best. Reality bites and the reality appears to be that neither Kownacki nor Ugonoh will ever have the honor of boxing in a heavyweight championship fight. It is unlikely that a heavyweight will carry the torch for this nation with a proud boxing tradition. Instead, I see a pair of super welterweights ultimately taking the mantle of Poland's next boxing superstar: Maciej Sulecki and Patryk Szymanski. Remember their names. They may jointly share this mantle as they continue punching their way towards that professional prizefight that will turn them into a breakout star (Sulecki will next be fighting Vanes Martirosyan in a WBC 154-pound eliminator). The key will be for both Szymanski and Sulecki to get exposure on boxing television, top-shelf quality networks such as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, etc.
Andrew Golota is how I got into boxing. So I view him as primordial. I would not be writing this piece right now nor would I be a member on this forum had it not been for the Warsaw-born heavyweight. So you can thank him. He inspired me as far as this particular combat sport is concerned, and he is why I fell in love with the fight game. I absolutely adored the Pole, and always looked forward to every one of his fights, studying his opponent before the bout in trying to identify any weaknesses that would suggest a Golota victory. I got addicted to the Andrew Golota Phenomenon and grew mesmerized by his cult status described in this piece. On a personal level, the big Pole is said to be reticent, morose, and surly, although I do not have any experience of my own. He did not capture top honors in the sport's glamour division, but did do something unprecedented: singlehandedly, he ignited a strong interest in pro boxing among the citizens of Poland, an interest that is going strong to this day and showing no signs of stopping. Is Golota a name that is etched in the sport of boxing for life? Is his name in the history books for life? What we do know is that his legacy is cemented in Poland, and that it is impossible to reflect on him without thinking of his contemporary Riddick Bowe. But the truth is that history will be the best judge of who the great fighters from this and recent eras are.
To recap, Golota is recognized as a national boxing icon in his home country for his incredible contribution to the professional game within the borders of his country. Even if the national hero dreams of a different legacy, there are no other fans or people in the world who adore him more than his own ethnic kindred. He has cemented himself atop the all time pound-for-pound summit in the hearts of Poles. With his pugilistic pursuits behind him, he is now able to enjoy a well-deserved retirement following a two-decade span in the ring, and I think that it will take many years for people to fully appreciate his career purview at world level. The earlier something happened, the more we appreciate it as time passes on, and it is no different with retired boxers. I will leave you with a list of Andrew's honors (please see below).
Andrzej, this one is for you. Cheers, and Happy 50th birthday!
Among outside the ring honors, Golota was named in, or as, the:
Ring Magazine New Faces: 1993
Ring Magazine Event of the Year: 1996
#5 of Ring Magazine 1996 Heavyweight Rankings
#9 of Ring Magazine 1998 Heavyweight Rankings
#8 of Ring Magazine 1999 Heavyweight Rankings
HBO "Legendary Nights" The Tale of Bowe-Golota (2003)
Polish Athlete of the past Quarter Century (2016)
Illinois Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee (2016)
To give credence to his larger-than-life hero status in his native land, let us be reminded that the Polish warrior has some worthwhile accomplishments which he seldom is given credit for in America. In honor of his 50th birthday, I will take boxing fans on a journey through Andrzej's accolades. It is his special day, he deserves his just due.
Writers and experts who see Andrew Golota at fights these days, especially when Polish boxers are in the ring, will tell you that people still come up to him. He is admired in such a way that it leads one to conclude that he might as well have been the first Polish heavyweight champion of the world. Alongside Solidarity movement leader Lech Walesa and Blessed Pope John Paul II, Golota is one of the most well-known Polish people in the world, standing tallest among his famous countrymen as the only boxer.
The final fight of Golota’s long and illustrious boxing career came in 2013, a KO at the hands of countryman Przemyslaw Saleta in an action-packed war. The 1988 Olympic bronze medalist, to this day still one of the sport's biggest curiosities, had a roller-coaster of a career filled with highs and lows. But the final chapter of his career against Saleta, despite the stoppage loss, was not one of the lows. Golota and his opponent exchanged in back-and-forth, give-and-take savagery before 14,000 fervent fans cheering on the war.
The 6-foot-4-inch Warsaw-born heavyweight bowed out in style, and although other 200-plus-pounders like Kownacki, Wach, and Ugonoh continue to don the country's white and red national colors on their trunks, there is no doubt as to who the greatest Polish heavyweight that ever laced up a pair of padded gloves is. That would be the native of Warsaw.
A sports legend in Poland, he remains the country's most famous boxer in history. It all began when he won a heavyweight bronze medal as an amateur at the 1988 Seoul Olympics (medaling at the Olympics arguably is the biggest achievement in boxing in today's fragmented landscape). At those Games, Lou Duva got his first look at Golota, who he would later train. Also competing in the boxing events at those Olympics were Lennox Lewis, Riddick Bowe, and Ray Mercer. Duva later said that while watching that tournament, he believed that among those four outstanding fighters, Golota was the toughest and possessed the best punch. Duva believed Golota would be the one who would become the best professional and star at the top of the sport's totem pole.
Golota became the first Polish boxing superstar as he fought the best in the world, all the while developing a mass following that made him into a cult figure, an influence that spread so rapidly it prompted many Polish youth to take up the sport. The height of Andrew's success and fame came during the mid-late 1990s. By that time, Golota was already a top star in his native country thanks to the Bowe fights which made his stock rise exponentially. Golota soon became the first and only Polish fighter to grace the cover of Ring Magazine, boxing's most prestigious publication. Also, he was the first Pole to appear on the cover of Boxing News and graced the cover of other prestigious publications such as KO Magazine and World Boxing, becoming the first and only Pole to ever appear on the cover of those respective magazines. Other prestigious and leading periodicals in the boxing industry that Golota was featured on on the front cover include Boxing Monthly and International Boxing Digest.
In 1996, Golota became the first Pole to fight on HBO, the network known for its tradition of excellence in showcasing the sport's best talents and biggest fights. He made his debut already as the main event headliner on "Night of the Young Heavyweights" against "Doc" Nicholson, who was training under the great Emanuel Steward at Kronk Gym. Andrew scored an eighth round TKO, but observers again pointed to him having a wanton side. He headbutted Danell as the fight was heading into the later rounds. Other young big boys of boxing featured on this card attempting to reach the summit of the heavyweight division included David Tua, Shannon Briggs, and John "The Quiet Man" Ruiz.
Bowe-Golota I was held on July 11, 1996, in "The Mecca of Boxing," Madison Square Garden. Golota became the first Polish boxer to fight in the latest version of the historic venue. MSG, boxing's holy of holies, also was the site of the biggest achievement of the decorated Polish amateur – fighting Chris Byrd to a 12-round draw. That draw means he achieved the best result in a world heavyweight prizefight among all Polish heavyweights who ever fought for a piece of the division’s crown. Boxing history is divided into multifarious parts, but prior to the mid-1990s, not a single chapter was reserved for being Polish for it was a pedigree that did not resonate in heavyweight history. Golota began changing all of that for he began pioneering a title path in America that was then trekked by Sosnowski, Adamek, Wach, Wawrzyk, Szpilka, Ugonoh, and now Kownacki, who is back in action on Showtime on January 20th. The hope, of course, is that one day a giant man from Poland will finally emerge as a world champion. It is a hope shared by fans in western Europe and Latin America. Just as there has never been a Polish heavyweight champion, so too has there never been a French or a Mexican heavyweight titlist, a drought prolonged by current WBC claimant Deontay Wilder, who in recent times denied all three demographic groups a shot at boxing history.
Andrew was among the leaders of the first Eastern European wave of heavyweights and was the face of that movement before the Klitschkos burst onto the scene. Golota is a link between the former Soviet Bloc countries and boxing success in the U.S. Various other factors also opened the door for this rise, but the Pole's professional profile put American promoters on notice following the two now-classic battles with Bowe which sent shock waves through the sport. In all, Andrew's impact on boxing in Eastern Europe — especially on millions of fans in Poland — is well documented as today within the country he is considered the father of Polish professional boxing. The feral heavyweight is one of many to put his country on the boxing map, along with Peter Jackson (Virgin Islands), Alexis Arguello (Nicaragua), and Hogan "Kid" Bassey (Nigeria), among others.
Golota became the first Polish heavyweight to challenge for world title honors in professional boxing's glory division. Prior to the early 90s, athletes in Communist countries, like Poland, were banned from competing in professional sports. Golota emerged as the country's first real star not long after the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe, and would soon challenge Hall of Famer Lennox Lewis for a heavyweight title belt, a prize that was once the greatest trophy in sports. The list of greats that once held a piece of the crown is legendary – Ali, Louis, Marciano, Foreman – to name but a few. Considering that from the beginning boxing in Poland was done only at the amateur level and the collapse of Communism allowed boxers in most Iron Curtain countries to go pro, the historical undertone emanating from Golota even fighting for one of the sporting world's most prestigious titles was monumental. Fighting at this top championship level was a bold political and social statement despite the lopsided loss. The underlying symbolism spoke volumes to those who had finesse to realize it. Impact is in the eye of the beholder, and it depends on the area of the world and its boxing pedigree. So while what Golota achieved may be minuscule in some people's eyes, it is seen as colossal by other people.
The Polish master earned millions in his finest hour (the number one goal of every elite boxer) all the while inspiring his loyal fans to dream big. Again, his clash with Lewis for WBC laurels signifies a historic showdown for Polish professional boxing. The fight was a huge deal in Poland, and because Golota was contesting for the WBC's iconic green belt, his title bid felt significant. Even more sweet (for that time) is that the press and fans alike were pretty split on the bout prediction. Golota was seen by many as still being undefeated since his two duels with Bowe should have ended in Ws, while there were no shortage of critics who regarded Lewis as having been truly exposed in his first meeting with Oliver McCall. So there was certainly a motley mix of predictions heading into Lewis-Golota, which explains why Lewis was only a narrow 6-5 favorite. Despite the ignominious ending to the bout, looking back on it, Lewis is still quite a name to have on your resume if you are a Polish boxer and only history will judge Golota's right to the quick loss based in part on how the careers of Adam Kownacki and Izu Ugonoh unfold.
Golota's major bouts, held during prime time in the U.S. and televised in Poland in the wee hours of Sunday mornings, have inspired generations upon generations of native fighters and fans. His people extol him for being their first countryman abroad to really make waves in professional boxing, so much so that nearly every male in Poland woke up in the middle of the night to watch their hero step into the ring against boxing's elite. From then on the figure of Golota acquired mythical proportions.
Does receiving a world title opportunity after overcoming a Communist regime equate to actually winning a title? While overcoming Communist rule is certainly overcoming a lot, in theory, it is hard to equate it to winning on the big international stage. From a boxing purist's point of view, anyway. But the truth is what that meant is up to interpretation of the people and what it means to them. The career story of prizefighters from ex-Communist countries transcends the extent of boxing reference and knowledge. Golota, whose story is that of tragedy and great unfulfilled promise, came from a place where boxing was outlawed for at least 45 years. Citizens of this nation have through generations come to know the feeling of being denied the chance at anything significant in all walks of life. Living in Communist times never equated to victory. The socialistic economic system eviscerated citizen privileges for decades. At one point, some Polish citizens likely thought they would never see the end of Communism. Luckily, beginning in 1989, they did. This end was a victory for the nation. By the same token, the same Poles (who are also boxing fans) who gave up hope on freedom only to be reignited during the first free parliamentary elections, can treat Golota's failed title challenge against Lewis as a victory as well. Think about that, Andrew's countrymen never thought they would see the day one of their own athletes is competing in professional gloved prizefighting, let alone see a countryman in heavyweight championship action. For the people of then-Communist Poland, that constitutes victory regardless of how controversial or flawed Golota might be.
The heavyweight division is known for its changing of the guards. But by not winning a trinket, Golota joins a pantheon of greats that never won a title either. If things panned out the opposite way and Golota did hold a major title, chances are he would never be mentioned among such central figures as Harry Wills, Joe Jeannette, Sam Langford, Ron Lyle, Jerry Quarry, among many others who also came up short in their quest to hold a piece of the crown. If anything, Golota's reign likely would have been short-lived after he managed to snatch a belt. But for that he would not go down among greats. That is not to say his loyal fans are satisfied with him never winning a championship belt. I would trade all of the fame and publicity from the Bowe fights for even one day as a world champion. Even if Golota went down among those who achieved only a modicum of championship success, together with Tony Tucker and Samuel Peter, it still would have been fully satisfying and sweet to know that despite everything, my favorite boxer had the honor of calling himself heavyweight champion.
How good was Golota and all other top contenders who never won an official title in the last 40 years? The answer to the question is this: They are better than you can ever imagine. For those of you who have trained in a gym before, you know what I mean and believe this. To reach the top ranks of professional boxing, Golota spent his entire life trading punches in the ring. He has had amazing, world-class trainers and he worked harder to improve his boxing game than most of us have worked on anything. In my eyes, any professional athlete who gets this far is a rarity, an exceptionally gifted individual. We can be as foolhardy as them, but chances are we will not be as successful. Think about the thousands of other young men and women from a certain place who are vying to reach the same level. Only one person from that respective place makes it. That speaks volumes.
Golota joined the likes of Arturo Godoy (Chile), Georges Carpentier (France), Luis Firpo (Argentina), Jose Roman (Puerto Rico), and Jorge Luis Gonzalez (Cuba) as boxers who made history for their respective nation by becoming the first from their country to step into the prize ring in an attempt to capture the most coveted title in boxing – a piece of the heavyweight crown. Being the first of anything significant carries its own glory. History will judge how immense the feat of just challenging for a world title truly is, and the respective nation's boxing pedigree will factor into that equation. Although a top contender fails to lay claim to the big prize that is the heavyweight strap, he fuels the spirit of competition. Only winning and becoming a heavyweight strap-holder would signify prestige, and nothing else. However, prestige is a matter of legitimacy. But these days, the sport has turned into a microcosm of money-hungry leaders (promoters, politicians, sponsors) that participants abiding by the Marquess of Queensberry rules have fallen victim to their own profession for they compete in a sport that has surrendered its own integrity and delegitimized its position as a sport. This is capable of flummoxing fans like nothing else. Boxing has turned money-driven and to that end become corrupt. Regardless of where in the world a fighter is from, the essential question to be asked is "what are you fighting for today"? Firpo and Golota were fighting for national pride, and won it big time. Firpo is still regarded with awe in Argentina, as is Golota in his own native land where no other Polish pugilist was nor is adored as much as he is. Sometimes people overrate the very first person to achieve something, but that is not the case with Golota in the world of professional boxing. His likely unrepairable reputation as a dirty fighter undermines his fine skills, ability, and worthwhile accomplishments.
As mentioned, two decades ago Eastern Europe was entering the boxing scene in fashion, and the talented hulk that is the subject of this piece (aka The Beast from the East) was representing a minority country in his run. The first wave of Russian boxers that made an impact during the 1990s was noteworthy to say the least. They paved the way for the successes of their descendants that we have seen in recent years. When evaluating the boxing pedigree of Poland and Russia at the professional level, Poland's pales in comparison. While both nations burst onto the scene during the 90s, Russia had a surfeit of fistic representatives. But for Poland, only Golota stood out as a prominent fighter (though to be fair, other pros such as Saleta and Marek Piotrowski were trying to make waves) but Andrew was alone in singlehandedly putting his country on the boxing map which suggests that he was ahead of his time and in a league of his own. Contrarily, when speaking in terms of the progression toward where the former Eastern Bloc (excluding Poland) is today, the group, as a whole, advanced the cause. Golota, however, did not have fellow counterparts to fall back on. There were not enough Poles fighting on his level yet to form their own wave. The days of Tomasz Adamek, Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, and Andrzej Fonfara were yet to come. Since these talented boxers did not come up together, it was a missed opportunity for Poland to have any chance of being considered a nation of fighting glory.
Today, Polish boxing is a huge growth market for the professional fight industry, with talents such as Patryk Szymanski and Maciej Sulecki waiting in the wings ready to prove just how hungry the young crop is after past generations of amateur standouts were trapped behind the Iron Curtain. Golota's meteoric rise to fame following the fall of the Berlin Wall triggered an exponential rise in both quality fighters and major boxing events in Poland, a modest breakthrough, begun in the mid-2000s. This ultimately set the tone for Poland finding a foothold for a huge growth market in the professional boxing industry. Further, it stands to reason that sudden business development may broaden boxing's relationship to the audience. On that point, Poland continues to grow in many walks of life courtesy of the boom associated with being part of the European Union (EU). Thinking ahead, much more funding is needed for the country's amateur program, as that remains the biggest problem hurting the sport there. That is why we see more Russian and Ukrainian boxers excelling in the ring than Polish (it all comes back to amateur development). That is why more money and resources must be allocated to amateur development which in the best case scenario will only trigger a revival of the glory amateur days Poland once enjoyed. It is a win-win, but until the powers that be decide to open their wallets, they should spend their cash on signing the right TV deals for young fighters who were fortunate enough to make it far so they are featured domestically and internationally. This way, a talent does not regress or get forlorningly lost in the mix. That said, this will provide the link between business and the boxing audience.
Who will vow to become a heavyweight threat in the prize ring and emulate his legendary compatriot Golota? Adam Kownacki throws a very high volume of punches and has very impressive accuracy but his weaknesses are too concerning (serious defensive flaws, poor footwork). Besides "Babyface," the only other potential heavyweight threat on the horizon is Izu Ugonoh, but he too must improve much of his game in order to have a shot at hanging in with the best. Reality bites and the reality appears to be that neither Kownacki nor Ugonoh will ever have the honor of boxing in a heavyweight championship fight. It is unlikely that a heavyweight will carry the torch for this nation with a proud boxing tradition. Instead, I see a pair of super welterweights ultimately taking the mantle of Poland's next boxing superstar: Maciej Sulecki and Patryk Szymanski. Remember their names. They may jointly share this mantle as they continue punching their way towards that professional prizefight that will turn them into a breakout star (Sulecki will next be fighting Vanes Martirosyan in a WBC 154-pound eliminator). The key will be for both Szymanski and Sulecki to get exposure on boxing television, top-shelf quality networks such as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, etc.
Andrew Golota is how I got into boxing. So I view him as primordial. I would not be writing this piece right now nor would I be a member on this forum had it not been for the Warsaw-born heavyweight. So you can thank him. He inspired me as far as this particular combat sport is concerned, and he is why I fell in love with the fight game. I absolutely adored the Pole, and always looked forward to every one of his fights, studying his opponent before the bout in trying to identify any weaknesses that would suggest a Golota victory. I got addicted to the Andrew Golota Phenomenon and grew mesmerized by his cult status described in this piece. On a personal level, the big Pole is said to be reticent, morose, and surly, although I do not have any experience of my own. He did not capture top honors in the sport's glamour division, but did do something unprecedented: singlehandedly, he ignited a strong interest in pro boxing among the citizens of Poland, an interest that is going strong to this day and showing no signs of stopping. Is Golota a name that is etched in the sport of boxing for life? Is his name in the history books for life? What we do know is that his legacy is cemented in Poland, and that it is impossible to reflect on him without thinking of his contemporary Riddick Bowe. But the truth is that history will be the best judge of who the great fighters from this and recent eras are.
To recap, Golota is recognized as a national boxing icon in his home country for his incredible contribution to the professional game within the borders of his country. Even if the national hero dreams of a different legacy, there are no other fans or people in the world who adore him more than his own ethnic kindred. He has cemented himself atop the all time pound-for-pound summit in the hearts of Poles. With his pugilistic pursuits behind him, he is now able to enjoy a well-deserved retirement following a two-decade span in the ring, and I think that it will take many years for people to fully appreciate his career purview at world level. The earlier something happened, the more we appreciate it as time passes on, and it is no different with retired boxers. I will leave you with a list of Andrew's honors (please see below).
Andrzej, this one is for you. Cheers, and Happy 50th birthday!
Among outside the ring honors, Golota was named in, or as, the:
Ring Magazine New Faces: 1993
Ring Magazine Event of the Year: 1996
#5 of Ring Magazine 1996 Heavyweight Rankings
#9 of Ring Magazine 1998 Heavyweight Rankings
#8 of Ring Magazine 1999 Heavyweight Rankings
HBO "Legendary Nights" The Tale of Bowe-Golota (2003)
Polish Athlete of the past Quarter Century (2016)
Illinois Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee (2016)
Comment