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Lewis won't dodge stiff competition
Lennox Lewis will make the first defense of his heavyweight title on April 29th when he takes on 6 foot 7 behemoth Michael Grant. Grant has long been touted as "The Next Heavyweight" or the "Heavyweight of the Future", labels he had acquired more as a result of his tremendous size and potential, than what he had accomplished in the ring. Until he fought Andrew Golota, questions lingered about his heart and toughness. In his fight with Golota, Grant came within a referee's instinctual twitch of being stopped. Golota exposed Michael Grant's chin as a possible dent in an otherwise impenetrable armour when he dropped him in the virgin round of their 10 round battle. Grant looked to be finished, wobbling around the ring like a boozed up sailor as the crowd roared with the wild thrill of an upset. Somehow, he survived the round. After losing the majority of what looked like a one-sided fight, Grant stormed back and slowly pieced together his previously shattered confidence. In a too good to be true turn around, Grant knocked out Golota in the final round, maintaining his slippery foothold near the top of the heavyweight division, but adding a splash of doubt into an already mysterious equation.
It may have been that splash of doubt that convinced the Lewis camp that Grant was a beatable and timely opponent. But in the end, the lasting impression from the Golota vs. Grant fight was not of Grant's early taste of canvas or the rubbery-legged rounds that followed. The lasting impression was of a dramatic comeback, a display of courage and heart, matched with the physical tools and conditioning needed to execute a 10th round knockout that reeked of desperation. The lasting impression was that we were witnessing something in the making.
Maybe that's why Lewis is taking him on now. Because he believes Michael Grant is still a fighter "in the making". After the fight was announced, Lewis was quoted by the Associated Press as saying, "I'd rather get him now, before he gets any better."
Regardless, Lewis has agreed to fight a dangerous man. He may be unpolished, but Michael Grant appears to have all the tools and potential to be the next heavyweight champion. Instead of defending his title against some ham and egger, Lewis is taking on who many perceive to be the best young heavyweight in the world today. Lewis could have fought Akinwande again, but he balked at that.
Instead, Lewis has confirmed that he indeed has the confidence and pride to fight the best. And he'll do it for half of the $15 million he was paid to fight Holyfield. Lewis is doing what a heavyweight champion should do. Roll out the welcome mat, with all the confidence in the world, to the best this planet has to offer. Anything less demeans the prestigious title of "heavyweight champion of the world".
Lewis and Grant are the poster boys for the heavyweights of the future. Big, skillful, athletic, and fast. And until recently they've been criticized for being equally lacking in the heart department, equally uninspired mediocre men of questionable character. But if a man is defined by his actions then Lewis and Grant have taken significant measures to erase any previous bias. Grant by showing the heart to survive his potentially disastrous first round with Andrew Golota. For finding a way to win and continue forward with his quest for the heavyweight title. And Lewis, for bravely giving Grant the chance to realize his seemingly unlimited potential.
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