Posted on 1/18/2008 2:18:43 PM

Boxing Betting – Mollo vs. Golota: Up and Comer vs. Down and Goer?

By Charles Jay

Mike Mollo steps up for what may be his biggest test as a pro on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, when, on the Jones-Trinidad undercard, the once-beaten heavyweight takes on four-time world title challenger Andrew Golota in what may be an ideal stepping stone for Mollo on the way to a title shot, or, if things don't go so well, a tough end to his heavyweight hopes.

The fight is scheduled for 12 rounds and will be contested for Mollo's WBA Fedelatin heavyweight title.

BetUS boxing betting odds:

WBA Fedelatin heavyweight title

January 19 -- New York City

MIKE MOLLO -210

ANDREW GOLOTA +165

UNDER 7.5 ROUNDS -250

OVER 7.5 ROUNDS +185

For betting purposes, let's size up the contestants:

MOLLO (19-1, 12 KO's), the -210 favorite in the BetUS boxing odds, has been steered carefully in his career. The Chicago-area native has fought mostly a collection of stock opponents, and in the one case where he has stepped up in class, he was stopped in four rounds by the hard-hitting DaVarryl Williamson in May of 2006. Mollo won the Fedelatin title (which means something, though we know not what) in October of 2006 with a second-round TKO of Kevin McBride, who had won some notoriety the year before by knocking out Mike Tyson. But when you look at some of the opponents he's had, such as Zach Page, Rogerio Lobo, Tony Weida, Eric French and Brian McIntyre, you have to wonder whether his people (who now include promoter Don King) have any real confidence in his ability, or if they're just gearing up to make him a high-level "opponent" for somebody (as they did with Peter McNeeley?), because this 27-year-old has been one of the most "protected" heavyweights out there.

They probably don't need to protect him all that much. Mollo is quick, active, knows how to finish, and can throw a good sneaky left hook. Unlike a lot of heavyweights who stand around and plod forward, Mollo moves from side to side and can "get in and get out" pretty well. He'll have a speed edge against Golota, that's for sure. And when speed generates power, it's a strong combination. Trainer Al Bonnani, who I know from my days in Miami, has done a good job with this kid who had a relatively limited amateur career.

GOLOTA (40-6-1, 33 KO's), the +165 underdog at BetUS, last fought in October of last year, stopping the aforementioned McBride in six rounds. He is one of those guys where you don't really know what you're going to get. He seemed to have Riddick Bowe down and out twice before losing by disqualification, quit like a dog against Mike Tyson, and had Michael Grant practically knocked out before letting Grant back into the fight (November of '99), which eventually led to a 10th-round TKO defeat. He's been knocked out in the first round twice in attempts to win a heavyweight title - by Lennox Lewis and then Lamon Brewster 7-1/2 years later. But then again, he was held to a disputed draw against Chris Byrd for the IBF crown in April of '04 and had some good wins earlier in his career (Orlin Norris, Tim Witherspoon, Jesse Ferguson, Danell Nicholson). He keeps getting resurrected. Will this be another instance of that?

Maybe not. Golota is 40 years old, and has demonstrated that he will quit when the going gets tough. He does hit with authority, but if he doesn't knock his opponent out, he has been known not to follow up. And as he showed against Bowe and Tyson, he is self-destructive.

I have seen these scenarios before, where the younger fighter who is getting more of a buildup trips against the veteran who is considered nothing more than a stepping stone, and certainly we have seen plenty of that in the heavyweight division. Mollo is not immune to that, because we saw that in his fight with Williamson. Golota has the capability to win this fight, but I wonder at this point whether he is in this for the payday and is even going to put forth a full effort. I would have to get a better price on him to plunge in.

Let's go with the younger, faster guy with more spring in his step. That's Mollo, the -210 favorite in the BetUS boxing betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: MOLLO (-210) **

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

Betting on boxing has never been so easy and you can get your bets in now in the BetUS sportsbook. Go to Other Sports: Boxing. Find tons of props on the fight and the fighters in the Future / props section as well!

(Charles Jay of TotalActionExtra.com is a former manager, matchmaker and color commentator in professional boxing. He currently pulls no punches in the BetUS Locker Room)