Columnist Dean Juipe: Tyson too imposing for Golota

Dean Juipe

Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2000 | 11:11 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or 259-4084.

Assuming neither one implodes today at the final prefight press conference, Mike Tyson and Andrew Golota will step into the ring Friday night in suburban Detroit and the world will await the inevitable train wreck.

The likelihood of twisted debris is the overwhelming, if not singular, attraction of this fight. And a bloody collision is virtually assured, hence a $50 pay-per-view fee that exceeds the asking price for a Nov. 11 heavyweight title fight in Las Vegas of far greater consequence, Lennox Lewis vs. David Tua.

Man will always buy a ticket or turn his head to look when sparks are apt to fly, hence the popularity of everything from "Survivor" to motor sports to Toughman competitions, and Tyson vs. Golota offers a pair of serial maniacs who tend to disdain such things as protocol, rules and sportsmanship.

To the degree that such things can be guaranteed, Tyson and Golota will almost certainly live up to their evil reputations. Each enjoys the occasional low blow, late hit and random elbow, and both are expected to show off their entire arsenal in a fight that's scheduled for 10 rounds but will never make it to the final bell.

Yet here's a note of caution for those awaiting the carnage: Although the betting odds are fairly tight at 3-1, no one in boxing really feels Golota will win and the opinion here is that the Foul Pole will wilt in Tyson's presence and the fight will be over within two or three rounds.

"Tyson Overwhelms Golota" may be the next day's headline.

Of course, so might "Fight Dissolves Into Melee."

It's this very real possibility of a disturbance in or immediately following a Tyson fight that has him all but banned from Nevada, at least on the short term. Whether it's a ruckus in the casino at the MGM or his pitiful actions in the ring if and when he becomes frustrated, the rough crowd that follows Tyson and his bad-boy persona led to the state placing him in exile.

The unfortunate aspect for fight fans here is that Tyson remains an interesting, if largely reclusive, character and when matched with a comparable opponent there's a discernible tension in the air. As a result, Tyson will always command an audience, even if his sordid track record currently requires his fights to be held away from the sport's financial and prestigious capital.

He's still making great money, although now he has to see the world to do it.

From a marketing standpoint, Golota is a perfect foil for Tyson. He's the definitive European slugger, a big man who speaks only halting English who has character flaws when it comes to boxing. Despite his imposing physical stature, he has been known to quit and he can be intimidated.

And no one is as intimidating in the ring as Tyson, even with his record reduced to 48-3 (and one no-contest) after once being a glossy 37-0.

Golota, at 36-4, is truly a step up from the journeymen Tyson was facing earlier this year, but he's not quite in Iron Mike's caliber and the difference should be apparent by the second round.

Golota could win -- shoot, Buster Douglas beat Tyson -- but it isn't likely.

That doesn't mean it won't be worth $50 to see his carcass draped across the rails.