Apr 22 - SHOWTIME 10:00
pm
Andrew Golota vs. Marcus Rhode
Andrew is one of more underrated heavyweights in the division today. His epic wars and
subsequent loses by disqualification to Riddick Bowe ruined Bowe. Actually, Andrew is the
reason Bowe speaks with a slur to this day! His last battle with Michael Grant
proved Andrew's speed and power, when he dropped Michael in the opening minutes of round
1. Grant survived, and was being out boxed by Andrew for 9 more rounds until in the the
10th, when a big right hand dropped Andrew. He got up quick, totally cognizant and the ref
asked him if he wanted to continue. Andrew said, "no." The fight was over.
Andrew didn't believe he was winning the fight. Like Vitali did recently in the Byrd
fight, Andrew snatched defeat out of the jaws of certain victory. His only other
"true" loss was a 1st round stoppage by Lennox Lewis. His loss to Lewis was
later determined to be of medical aspects. Andrew has banged out some of the once
promising stars in the heavyweight division. He stopped Jesse Ferguson, Quinn
Navarre, Eli Dixon and Dannell Nicholson. He owns decisions over Corrie Sanders and Tim
Witherspoon. He's been in with bangers, and has for the most part rose to the occasion.
Marcus is a totally different story. In his last 23 fights (spanning back to 10 Feb 97),
he has 8 win, 3 no decisions and 12 loses and was stopped 10 TIMES! In his last 4 fights
he has lost 3 by stoppage. This boy's got a soft melon. He owns a record of 24-15, 24
KO's. He has never won by decision and has only won by KO. This chinless wonder will not
last 180 seconds.
This is a horrible mismatch and I see Andrew doing MAJOR damage inside the first heat!
Bombs Away!!
Golota inside 1
Montell Griffin vs. Jose Luis Rivera
Montell is the only man to ever deal Roy Jones Jr. a loss, when Roy was DQ'd for hitting
Montell after he took a knee in the 9th round, taking Roy's WBC light hw belt. Roy
subsequently got the belt back 3 months later by dispatching Montell in 1 round.
Realistically, Montell is a decent banger with much skill. He was a hard target for Roy
the first time out, and demonstrated to me that he can hang with the big boys. In the
amateurs Montell beat both Jeremy Williams and John Ruiz, and professionally owns a pair
of 12 round decisions to James Toney. He bounces back from his last fight, a fight in
which he was stopped by Darius Michalczewski this past Aug in 4 rounds.
Jose is an up and coming LHW, looking for the opportunity to make a name for himself. He
doesn't have much world experience. His only tenacious "in the trenches" fighter
he has ever faced was Rocky Gannon, where first lost a decision to then TKO'd in 6. Jose
doesn't share the same international experience Montell has, and when faced with a banger,
could fold. Antonio Tarver stopped him in 4 rounds in Jun 98. Montell will be primed for
his comeback fight.
Jose will soften up in the mid rounds, then Montell will close.
Griffin inside 9
In Retrospect:
Andrew Golota vs. Marcus Rhode
As expected! I NEVER make first round predictions, but in this case, I figure it highly
possible. Andrew was somewhat tentative in round 1, but started bombing Marcus in round 2.
Andrew scored 2 knockdown in round 2, then 2 more times in the 3rd when the ref called a
halt to the bout at 2:19 of the 3rd. Andrew looked good in his come back loss to Michael
Grant, but against a heavy bag. I'll keep an eye on him when he's in against better
opposition.
Montell Griffin vs. Jose Luis Rivera
Almost as expected. Montell had a tough time trying to stop the game Jose, but proved to
the judges who the better fighter was. Montell continues his climb up the ladder in the
light heavy division. In this win he scored the IBC 175 crown. What we need to see is
Montell in with a world ranked LH. None the less, a good performance by Montell.
