By Mike Indri
Retired Boxers Foundation
(New Jersey State representative)
March 3, 2004

New York – Boxing promoter extraordinaire Don King, holding up a Polish flag and chanting "Viva Poland, Viva Golota" announced during Tuesday's press conference that Andrew "The Powerful Pole" will challenge champion Chris Byrd for his International Boxing Federation title belt April 17th at Madison Square Garden.

Golota, a seven-time Polish national amateur champion and the 1988 Olympic bronze medal winner, appears to have now resurrected his tumultuous professional career. Two disqualification losses to then-champion Riddick Bowe, biting another opponent, suffering a devastating 1st round knockout loss to champion Lennox Lewis and refusing to continue fighting after a 10th round knockdown against Michael Grant, were some of the more bizarre events plaguing the Polish fighter.

The low point for the Warsaw native came in October 2000 during a fight against Mike Tyson. Suffering a cut eye and a 1st round knockdown Golota quit after round two, despite the vehement pleas from his legendary trainer Al Certo. Leaving the ring, Golota was pelted with beer bottles and debris by the enraged fans upset with the abrupt ending to this highly anticipated match between boxing's two most notorious heavyweights.

Now after his three-year hiatus from boxing the "new" Andrew Golota is back and will be fighting at boxing's greatest venue, Madison Square Garden.

"It will be exciting" stated Golota. "It will be even more exciting when I knock Chris Byrd out on April 17th".

While the Byrd-Golota fight will be the most compelling, the Don King promoted Pay-Per-View event will also feature an all Puerto Rican match-up as the main event. Fres Oquendo, 24-2 (15 KO's), will take on WBA Heavyweight Champion John Ruiz, (39-5-1, including 27 KO's). While somehow not being able to gain much respect from the boxing public, Ruiz's resilience, courage and ability have enabled him to twice gain the title of "World Heavyweight Champion".

Also, Jose "El Gallo" Rivera will defend his WBA Welterweight Championship against Ricardo Mayarga on this aptly titled "The New Era Begins" fight card.

Tickets are now on sale at the Madison Square Garden box office and at all TicketMaster locations or by calling TicketMaster at (201) 507-8900, (212) 307-7171 or (914) 454-3388.