By Scoop Malinowski

Despite a near computer meltdown because of the volume of questions received, the “uncrowned” WBA/IBF Heavyweight champion took time out of his busy schedule to respond to Boxinginsider.com readers. Andrew Golota just returned home from his most recent skiing trip to Breckenridge in the Colorado Rocky Mountains (which prevented him from watching the Klitschko-Williams title bout). Okay, let’s get right to some of the questions:

Q - First I’d like to thank boxinginsider.com for giving us boxing fans the chance to ask Mr. Golota questions.

1) You have faced some of the hardest punchers of your era in Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson, so my question to you is which fighter hits harder? Is there a big difference or is the difference in power only minimal? In other words, which fighter hurt you more? -Sharif Atteia, Egypt

Andrew Golota: I don’t know. I can’t measure. For the Lewis fight I wasn’t mentally ready you know? For Lewis I had many injuries in training camp - knee injury, rib injury, some I don’t even know the names. I had so many injuries I shouldn’t have even been qualified to fight. I couldn’t even go for the exam before the fight. I couldn’t pass it. Because I was on heavy anti-inflammatories before the fight. Everybody pushed me for the fight. They didn’t even care, (they said) Don’t worry, don’t worry, everything’s fine. So what can you do? You gotta do what you gotta do. They were so confident I was gonna beat Lewis and Tyson. Before the Lewis fight, Lewis fought with Mercer, he looked terrible with Mercer. And I fought him and everyone thought I would beat him, especially the Duvas. Tyson - I was confident, except he stepped in and cut my eye with a headbutt. How do I continue fighting after that? And I was the one they warned to fight clean. And he headbutt me. He opened my eye and gets away with that. And what kind of position am I in? I was cheated bigtime. And it is not possible to go the distance with a cut like that, in first round. It doesn’t make sense to go through with the fight. Especially when the referee was watching only one side of the competitors. His eye was on me, he didn’t see what Tyson did.

2) Why did you decide to slow down your pace in the Ruiz fight knowing how unreliable a judges’ decision can be -Sharif Atteia, Egypt

Andrew Golota: I couldn’t even imagine that they could give me a loss in the fight. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe I could lose control of the fight. I was so confident.

Q - Here’s my first question for AG. I will send more, but this one I feel is most important. Please be sure to send him these (2) attachments, because my point cannot be made without ANDREW seeing these “before” & now” pictures…

ANDREW, I was at the Garden for the Ruiz fight and it really disturbed me to see you get tagged the way Ruiz connected. I know that “Father Time” is catching up to all of us. Do you ever look back and watch tapes of your classic battles with Bowe, Grant, etc. and try to compare your style of boxing back then to your style of today? Years ago you seemed to have better head movement and you came more forward with your punches. Would it be possible to regain some of your old style that made you so much more effective? (. Please see the (2)photo’s which illustrates my point. Thank you and best of luck in your next fight and remember, BE AGGRESSIVE!!!)Thanks,Janus

Andrew Golota: Interesting question. I never watch films of my fights with Bowe or Grant. I never compare myself before and now. In future maybe I should.

Q - We understand you want to fight again in March/April. Thats GREAT news for all GOLOTAFANS!!!Any idea who your opponent will be?

Andrew Golota: I don’t know. Talking with King now, tomorrow. From this point nobody wants to fight me. Unless they’re gonna be forced to.

Q- Any idea who your next opponent will be? And who would be YOUR first
choice? Best of Luck in the Future. -Janus

Andrew Golota: Brewster in March (site yet to be determined). Ruiz or Byrd. Whoever wants to fight me. Nobody wants to fight me.

Q - Dear Andrew,
I’m one of your biggest fans. Don’t retire just yet because you are the real
champ. I have two quick questions for you. First of all, what size shoe do
you wear. Secondly, what is the most you have ever weighed while not in
training. Thanks for your time, and good luck in the future champ! Steven Turk Pittsburgh

Andrew Golota: Thank you, I’m going to do my best. Size 13. About 260.

Q - I would like to ask Golota why he decided to stop wearing the polish trunks and
robe when he enters the arena and why he doesn’t play the polish anthem during
his entrance. Is it because he wants to get a wider fan base instead of just
having the usual polish crowd, or is there another reason. From: Maciej Tankiewicz (Bethlehem, PA)

Andrew Golota: (Trunks) No reason for that. Just different. (Anthem) before the fight, why should I do it? It’s not about anthems, it’s about boxing. It’s boxing. I’m not gonna concentrate on another, secondary thing. It can distract me from concentrating on the fight, that’s why. Before the Lennox Lewis fight I was getting to the ring - and the anthem kept playing on and on - extended time. I got the shot (to knee) before the fight, it was like I was on a drug, I was almost falling asleep because of the time extension (of anthem). Now I want to be ready to step to the ring as soon as possible.

Q - Fan since the Bowe fights.Andrew, I’ve been a huge fan of yours for 10+ years. In my opinion, you should be the heavyweight champion of the world. I think you beat both Byrd and Ruiz. My question to you is this: What do YOU think the explanation is for your questionable losses recently, when so many people think you deserved to win. Do you think it is just bad luck on your part, or is the boxing community out to get you? Please don’t retire. Keep fighting. I know you will be the heavyweight champ.
-Shane

Andrew Golota: Corrupt by the boxing committee, that’s what it is. Somebody bribed them, that’s what I think. Because everybody saw I won the fight. Somebody has his business to do this, I believe.