On October 6th, Andrew Golota (39-6-1, 32) returns to action against one-time Mike Tyson conqueror Keven McBride (34-5-1, 29 KOs) at Madison’s Square Garden, in New York. Golota, 39, is making his 2nd bout since starting his boxing comeback against Jeremy Bates in June 2007, following a two-year absence away from the ring. Golota looked considerably slower in his last bout than he did in his prime 10 years ago.
In fact, he seemed only a shadow of his former self. However, Bates (21-14, 9 KOs), didn’t have nearly enough skills to expose Golota and perhaps send him packing. Not much will change in that respect, however, against the 6’6″ Kevin McBride, who has size and little else going for him. In his last bout, McBride bit off a little more than he can chew against the hard-punching Mike Molla, who took him out in the 2nd round on October 7, 2006.
It was a mistake for McBride to fight someone as skilled as Molla, as he doesn’t match up well with the young slugger. Perhaps it was desperation, who knows? McBride, 34, had been expecting big things, such as a heavyweight title shot, after being the one to finish Mike Tyson’s career when he stopped him in the sixth round a year earlier, on June 11. 2005. However, nothing ever came of the victory, certainly not any title shots. Instead, McBride had to settle for fighting unknown fighter Byron Polley 10 months later, a bout that paid McBride very little.
The knockout loss to Molla would seem to have finished all title hopes that McBride or any other such decent paydays. Now, however, McBride gets perhaps a final shot at not only a decent payday, but possibly another fight in which he retires a once-famous fighter. However, for that to happen, McBride is going to have to have a good chin, since Golota can still punch a little, based on what he showed in his last bout against Bates.