Andrew Golota bristled at the suggestion that he and his next opponent, former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, are “two of a kind.”
“I don’t know him, I don’t want to know him,” Golota said. “We are nothing like each other, not at all, absolutely not.”
The Polish boxer and his trainer, Al Certo, said they are hoping for a clean fight Friday night in Auburn Hills, Mich. Golota and Tyson have well-deserved reputations as dirty fighters.
Golota, 32, got his reputation from a pair of bouts against Riddick Bowe in 1996.
He was disqualified for low blows in both fights, even though each time he appeared on his way to winning.
Golota bit Samson Pouha on the shoulder in 1995 and head-butted Danell Nicholson in 1996 but won both fights.
Golota is 36-4 with one of the losses coming to current champion Lennox Lewis.
Another loss was against Michael Grant in November in a fight that was stopped in the 10th round with Golota ahead on the scorecards.
“I’m a little smarter now,” Golota said. “Smarter, older and more experienced.”
Tyson was disqualified for biting Evander Holyfield’s ears in 1997.
He also knocked down Orlin Norris after the bell ended the first round Oct. 23, and the fight was declared a no-contest when Norris hurt his knee in falling and couldn’t continue.
On June 24 in Glasgow, Scotland, Tyson knocked down the referee as he tried to attack Lou Savarese after stopping him in 38 seconds.
Golota said his training for the fight should have included “more biting.” He said he will be ready for whatever Tyson tries in the ring.
“Whatever he starts, I will finish,” Golota said.
Tyson will earn $10 million, and Golota gets $2 million.
Hearing that, you have to wonder why Lewis is only getting $8.5 million to fight a legitimate No. 1 contender in David Tua, who is preparing for the Nov. 11 pay-per-view challenge of Lewis, the WBC/IBF world heavyweight champion.
Davie heavyweight Tommy Martin of Miami-based Gerrits Leprehaun Boxing is expected to spar with Tua.
Martin (18-2) has sparred with Tua before in West Palm Beach. Martin was recently ranked No. 1 in the NBA Intercontinental rankings for the first time in his pro career. He also is No. 8 in the IBF and No. 14 in the USBA.
Around South Florida
Hollywood pro bantamweight Ada (Ace) Velez, trained by former world champion Bonnie Canino of Dania, fights Wednesday night on Dr. Richard Hill’s pro club show at the Angelo Dundee Training Center in Davie. Velez (3-0, 2 KOs), a former national amateur champion, is one of the nation’s hottest female boxers. She recently won in Elgin, Ill., with a second-round knockout on a Fox Sports pro card. … Boxing promoter Patrick Gerrits is branching out. He recently passed an extensive series of tests in Milford, Conn., to become a Subway franchise holder in England. His territory encompasses 85 Subway stores that includes Manchester, where several pro boxing cards are held. … Cuban defector Diobelys Hurtado of Miami will headline the next Team Freedom/Sunshine Network pro fight card Oct. 28 at Miccosukee Indian Gaming Boxing. … Muhammad Ali and legendary trainer Angelo Dundee of Weston will receive the National Italian American Foundation “One America” award at the 25th anniversary Awards Gala on Oct. 28 in Washington, D.C. President Bill Clinton will present the award to Ali and Dundee. Ali is one of 15 world champions Dundee trained. … Don King’s training camp in Fort Pierce is up and running with heavyweight contender Larry Donald, two-time world bantamweight champion Nana Konadu and heavyweight Joseph Awinongya training. The King family also has a training site in Orwell, Ohio.
