Boxer Golota examined

Web posted October 16, 1997

Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Heavyweight boxer Andrew Golota, who collapsed in his dressing room after being stopped by Lennox Lewis, received a pain-killer injection in his right knee just before his Oct. 4 match.

Golota entered Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital where he underwent neurological tests Wednesday.

``He will be given a complete neurological examination,'' promoter Dino Duva said. He said it would be a few days before results of the tests were known.

Duva also said he found out two days after the Saturday night fight at Atlantic City, N.J., that Golota was injected with lidocaine in his hotel room before going to the Convention Center. ``They didn't even tell my father,'' Lou Duva.

Lou Duva and Roger Bloodworth, Golota's co-trainers, were already at the Convention Center, where they had fighters in preliminary bouts, when Golota arrived at 10:40 p.m., about an hour before the bout. He lasted only 95 seconds before being stopped.

The New Jersey Athletic Control Board wasn't informed about the injection either, according to Dino Duva.

Lou Duva said he was told by a Dr. Katzman that a small amount of lidicaine was injected. ``He said, `Lou I just touched him,''' Duva said.

Golota, a native of Poland who now lives in Chicago, had a seizure in his dressing room and was hospitalized early Sunday. He was released later in the day.