Special Heavyweight Attraction “Polish Fight of the Century”:
Andrew “Powerful Pole” Golota vs. Przemyslaw “Chemek” Saleta
Golota vs. Saleta is a Polish super-fight that had been planned to take
place twice previously only to be delayed until now. The two great Polish
heavyweights were close to finalizing a deal in 1999, but Golota chose to
face Michael Grant instead. Similarly, Golota had been in discussions to
face Saleta the following year but opted to face “Iron” Mike Tyson.
Saleta, (42-6, 21 KOs) from Warsaw, Poland, has long fought in the shadow of
his more famous countryman Golota; however, Saleta was the first Polish
fighter to turn professional in 1991. He had been a national, European and
world kickboxing champion as both an amateur and professional, who turned to
boxing “because I had achieved everything there was to achieve in the
sport,” Saleta said.
Saleta sparred with Golota in the late 1980s, but the two fighters have
followed completely different paths since then both in and out of the ring.
While Golota became an enigmatic introvert whose boxing skills brought him
to the top of the heavyweight division, Saleta, with his movie star looks
and endorsement deals, has become a media darling in Poland who often graces
the covers of female-appeal magazines.
“I have always wanted to prove that I am a better fighter than Golota and as
good as any fighter in the world,” Saleta said. “He’s just had better
promoters. This will be the Polish Fight of the Century and Chicago will be
a better place for this fight than Warsaw.
“Golota has always talked about me in the press and now he’s going to have
to face me in the ring. I will do the same thing Brewster did to him.”
Saleta lived in Florida and trained under the legendary Angelo Dundee from
1992 to 1996. Saleta became the WBC International cruiserweight champion in
1994 before moving to heavyweight the following year.
Saleta’s career highlight occurred when he became the first and only Polish
fighter to become European champion when he scored a ninth-round technical
knockout over then-undefeated Luan Krasniqi in Dortmund, Germany on July 20,
2002. (Krasniqi defeated Lance “Mount” Whitaker on May 28 in a World Boxing
Organization elimination bout, which puts him in line to face champion
“Relentless” Lamon Brewster.)
Golota’s last three fights have been for world heavyweight titles. He
fought IBF champion Chris Byrd to a draw at Madison Square Garden on April
17, 2004. After knocking down World Boxing Association heavyweight champion
John “The Quietman” Ruiz twice in the second round at the Garden on Nov. 13
(and Ruiz had a point deducted for hitting on the break in round four), he
still suffered a decision loss. Many ringside observers felt Golota had won
both of these contests.
In his last appearance, Golota (38-6-1, 31 KOs) faced WBO heavyweight
champion “Relentless” Lamon Brewster on May 21 at the United Center and
suffered a first-round technical knockout.
After having gone 24 rounds with two world champions, Golota was let down
after losing so quickly to the WBO champion.
“I feel unfulfilled after the Brewster fight,” Golota said. “Those 53
seconds is not who I am and what boxer I am. I don’t want to leave the
sport this way. Knockouts are just part of boxing