Two weeks after the announcement by Futch Bowe and Golota signed for a rematch which was to be held in Atlantic City, New Jersey at Boardwalk Hall on December 14, 1996. Bowe admitted he had not taken Golota seriously coming into the previous fight and attributed his poor performance to the fact that he had not trained much for the bout. For the rematch, Bowe brought in renowned trainer Mackie Shilstone and a nutritionist to monitor his training and diet and weighed in at 235 pounds for the rematch with Golota. As in their previous fight, Bowe had trouble landing his jab in the first round while Golota was able to effectively use his and landed nearly twice as many punches in the round than Bowe. In the second round, Golota landed a left–right combination at the one-minute mark that dropped Bowe to the canvas for only second time in his professional career. Bowe was able to answer the referee's 10 count but was met with a furious Golota assault that lasted until Golota intentionally hit Bowe with a head butt with 30 seconds left in the round, causing referee Eddie Cotton to call time and deduct one point from Golota on the judge's scorecards. Golota got the worst of the head butt, as it opened up a nasty cut above his left eye. Despite his foul, Golota ended the second round having dominated Bowe punch-wise, landing 71 of his 96 punches while Bowe only managed to land 11 of his 43 punches. Bowe bounced back to have a solid third round and dominated Golota during the fourth, landing a 15–punch combination that dropped Golota to the mat for the first time in his professional career as the first minute of the round came to an end. The combination also re-opened Golota's cut and he was forced to finish the final two minutes of the round with blood trickling from his left eye. As the second minute passed, the exhausted Golota hit Bowe with a low blow that prompted a warning from Cotton. Only 20 seconds later, however, Golota again hit Bowe with a low blow that sent Bowe to the canvas in pain. Cotton subsequently called time and deducted another point from Golota. Golota rebounded from his poor fourth round to have a great fifth round that saw him gain a second knockdown of Bowe. At 1:47 of the round Golota delivered an 11-punch combination that again sent Bowe to the mat. Bowe was able to answer Cotton's count but again was met with a furious rally from Golota, who was able to pin Bowe against the ropes with a barrage of power punches, though Bowe managed to survive the round.