BoxRec

On the under-card of the WBC HW showdown between Samuel Peter and Oleg Maskaev, was a little match that caught my eye, as it was a tad bit unusual.

Kevin McBride (34-5-1, 29) who's best known for being the youngest Super Heavyweight medal winner in history, as well as being the victor in his match against Mike Tyson, and for being the Irish HW champion (though that particular title hasn't been defended since 1997), is set to face "The Polish Mike Tyson" Andrew Golota (39-6-1,32)!

McBride, since losing to unknown Mike Mollo in 2006, has reportedly been residing in his native Ireland and had not contacted legendary trainer Goodi Petronelli for some time, seemingly 'retired' from boxing. After the Tyson bout, McBride had signed a deal to fight then WBA champion John Ruiz, that is if Ruiz got by the gigantic Nicolay Valuev. Unfortunately for McBride he was never able to cash in on the Tyson fight, never got his title shot, and was knocked out by a mediocre opponent.

Andrew Golota, like McBride, has also faded into obscurity, as he has only fought once since losing to then WBO champion Lamon Brewster by KO in the 1st round, a 2nd round TKO over Jeremy Bates (yes the same Jeremy Bates that is also a part-time salesman and was a recent Holyfield victim). Golota had been impressive in his 2004 bout against Chris Byrd, though he was unranked, and had two other title shot opprotunities against John Ruiz (WBA) and of course Brewster (WBO) in late 2004 and early 2005.

Though, on paper, this sounds like a complete mismatch, Golota is 39 years old and is significantly smaller than the "Clones Colossus" and has never had quite the mental strength to go along with his actual boxing ability, as he is prone to fouling out, having mental break downs before and during fights and the like. Also throw in the fact that he has only fought 4 times in the last 4 years, may also show the tolls of inactivity. Same goes for McBride.

McBride might just have something to prove this time around, taking enough time off from the ring to regroup after that humiliating loss, and get back into focus....though most experts and fans would say this is a case of a lamb being led to the slaughter.

In any case, Golota and McBride are back, and whoever wins, will be sure to be thrown into the HW mixed bag of contenders and pretenders. And I am sure, for however long it lasts, it will be a wildly sloppy and entertaining fight among two of the bigger HW's in the division.

McBride is terrible, he should have cashed in when he beat Tyson instead of overpricing himself. He won't get very far.

The main event is more interesting to me, does everyone believe it is an open and shut case of a Peter KO? It seems most of the writers are leaning that way. I'm not so sure. Maskaev has a new found belief and even though all 5 of his losses are by stoppage he took bombs off both Sam and Rahman and never flinched. He also popped the unbeaten cherry of David Defiagbon during his comeback.

I think if Maskaev can establish a rhythm he may cause the lumbering Nigerian some problems. However Peter showed against Toney in the rematch he is more of an astute boxer than we once thought, if he reverts to the big KO approach then i give Maskaev a chance. But if Peter is smart and boxes for openings i think he wins.

I'm actually interested in how Golota looks. He was robbed vs Byrd and just when it seemed like King had lined up one of the poorest champions ever as cannon fodder... Brewster forgot to read the script.

I don't think though Golota deserved to be cast aside so quickly after the Brewster loss... he looked decent vs Byrd and could still be a player in the devision IMO.

A gust of wind could probably blow McBride over. Golota very early KO for me.

McBride best known as the "youngest Super Heavyweight medal winner in history"

What on earth is that about? What medal? AT what championship?

E wrote:McBride best known as the "youngest Super Heavyweight medal winner in history"

What on earth is that about? What medal? AT what championship?

I'd be interested to know this as he got beat 21:1 in the 2nd Round of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

E wrote:McBride best known as the "youngest Super Heavyweight medal winner in history"

What on earth is that about? What medal? AT what championship?

Apparently, he was the youngest super-heavyweight to box in an Olympics when he boxed in Barcelona in 1992 at 19. He didn't win a medal.
McBride was trained as an amateur by Frank Mulligan, who also coached a young Barry McGuigan and wrote a book modestly titled "Me and McGuigan." In the book, Mulligan admits to indulging in three-day drinking benders and winding up in hospital.

steve689 wrote:McBride is terrible, he should have cashed in when he beat Tyson instead of overpricing himself. He won't get very far.

The main event is more interesting to me, does everyone believe it is an open and shut case of a Peter KO? It seems most of the writers are leaning that way. I'm not so sure. Maskaev has a new found belief and even though all 5 of his losses are by stoppage he took bombs off both Sam and Rahman and never flinched. He also popped the unbeaten cherry of David Defiagbon during his comeback.

I think if Maskaev can establish a rhythm he may cause the lumbering Nigerian some problems. However Peter showed against Toney in the rematch he is more of an astute boxer than we once thought, if he reverts to the big KO approach then i give Maskaev a chance. But if Peter is smart and boxes for openings i think he wins.

I saw that Defiagbon fight, and Defiagbon looked really dreadful, pot bellied, with sallow skin and skinny limbs, I don't know what had happened, but he really did look truly awful.

dopey wrote:A gust of wind could probably blow McBride over. Golota very early KO for me.

I agree. Would be very surprised if McBride lasted any more than a few rounds.

why the f&$k dont mcbride get over to britain and fight the british heavyweights im not saying he;d win them all but it would make it a bit more intresting but i think his management would ask for to much money because they belive he;s a world champion in the making

Even Audley would beat McBride.

I was under the assumption that McBride won a bronze medal.

maybe the american papers were wrong. anyways, i'd love to see the fight. and....at one time, i think McBride was supposed to fight Matt Skelton for some title, but it never happened, this was some time after the Tyson debacle; but i think Skelton chose to fight Harrison or Williams.

HomicideHenry wrote:I was under the assumption that McBride won a bronze medal.

maybe the american papers were wrong. anyways, i'd love to see the fight. and....at one time, i think McBride was supposed to fight Matt Skelton for some title, but it never happened, this was some time after the Tyson debacle; but i think Skelton chose to fight Harrison or Williams.

It was meant to be for the WBU title .
McBride doesn't fight in Britain because he can earn far more money losing to the Andrew Golota's of this World than the Michael Sprott's .

McBride has a punch at lower level, but his chin and speed of punch let him down at anything near Euro or World class.
He looked very chinny in his loss against Mollo, everytime Mollo landed it shook McBride to the toes.
Golata's best days are far behind him, but he'll have to much for McBride.

The Main event looks interesting , Peter has been getting the big buildup, and he does seem to have improved since the loss to Klitschko, but Maskaev has also surprised everyone, i thought he'd get KO'd again pretty quickly. But he seems to have got a chin from somewhere.

Daniel Santos v Jose Antonio Rivera on the undercard should be a good one as well, both boxers need to get a win, no many places left to go for the loser

How on earth did any version of Tyson lose to this guy???

I think Tyson just got bored and quit rather than McBride getting the better of him. If Tyson had kept going he would have had him.

dopey wrote:I think Tyson just got bored and quit rather than McBride getting the better of him. If Tyson had kept going he would have had him.

Nope, Kevin fought a pretty smart fight. Tyson just got old.

bennie wrote:

dopey wrote:I think Tyson just got bored and quit rather than McBride getting the better of him. If Tyson had kept going he would have had him.

Nope, Kevin fought a pretty smart fight. Tyson just got old.

Anyone else see it? I heard the scoring was near level, did Mcbride do any damage to Tyson?

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:

bennie wrote:

dopey wrote:I think Tyson just got bored and quit rather than McBride getting the better of him. If Tyson had kept going he would have had him.

Nope, Kevin fought a pretty smart fight. Tyson just got old.

Anyone else see it? I heard the scoring was near level, did Mcbride do any damage to Tyson?

McBride opened up well in the fifth to have Tyson rocking. Tyson responded with a checklist of his favourite fouls, but he couldn't dent McBride. After that, he basically couldn't be arsed anymore.

Tyson was ahead on points but one report I read summed it up perfectly when they said "Tyson quit not because he was getting badly beaten by his opponent, but because he wasn't beating his opponent badly enough".

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:

bennie wrote:

dopey wrote:I think Tyson just got bored and quit rather than McBride getting the better of him. If Tyson had kept going he would have had him.

Nope, Kevin fought a pretty smart fight. Tyson just got old.

Anyone else see it? I heard the scoring was near level, did Mcbride do any damage to Tyson?

McBride was given absolutely no chance and compared to fellow Boston heavyweight Peter McNeeley, who lasted all of 89 seconds with Tyson in the 90's. But McBride showed character to withstand Tyson's early attacks and, more than that, to fire back. Trained by Goody Petronelli of Marvin Hagler fame, McBride used his size and reach to good effect, tagging Iron Mike with long rights to the body and leaning on him in the clinches.
The 38-year-old Tyson, fighting to pay off huge debts, had clearly banked on taking Kevin out early and looked exhausted by the third. It became painful to watch from the fourth, as Tyson, with Jeff Fenech in his corner, clearly had nothing worthwhile to offer and resorted to foul tactics, butting open a cut over McBride's left eye and twisting his arm in a clinch. Tyson was docked two points in the sixth, by which point he was barely able to lift himself off the canvas after McBride pushed him down near the bell.
Fenech did the right thing and retired his man at the end of the round.

Larry Holmes was right in his prediction at how Tyson would end up, Broke, in Jail or dead.

Old bones Ian wrote:Larry Holmes was right in his prediction at how Tyson would end up, Broke, in Jail or dead.

Everyone ends up dead. Mike won't be broke despite going for bankruptcy, there will always be money that his name can make

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:Everyone ends up dead.

Good point!

Apart from Highlander.

Loynesy wrote:Apart from Highlander.

But remember - there can oonly be one!