Lewis Chops Grant Down to Size in 2

NEW YORK — No one could take this one away from Lennox Lewis.

Not the World Boxing Assn.

Not Eugenia Williams.

Not Larry O’Connell.

And certainly not Michael Grant.

Faced with a taller target, a novice in major title fights and a fighter who forgot about defense while trying to establish his offense Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, Lennox Lewis defended his heavyweight championship in dramatic and devastating fashion, getting two knockdowns and a standing eight-count against Grant in the first round and a finishing knockout at 2:53 of the second.

“I don’t get paid for overtime,” a jubilant Lewis said. “Every time I hit him, he went down, so I just kept hitting him. Styles make fights and I thought Michael Grant’s style was perfect for me to showcase my talent.”

Lewis had looked awkward and fought conservatively in his two previous bouts, one ending in a draw against Evander Holyfield, the other with a unanimous decision over Holyfield.

But 13 months after the draw was fought in this building--Williams gave the fight to Holyfield, O’Connell scored it even--Lewis made sure the judges never had a say in the outcome.’

“I brought my own two judges this time,” he said, looking at his fists.

Lewis, 34, came into the fight with a 35-1-1 record, 27 knockouts, the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation heavyweight titles, and 12 appearances in major title fights.

Grant, 27, came in undefeated at 31-0 with 22 knockouts, but he has been in boxing for only six years and had never fought for anything bigger than the North American Boxing Federation crown he brought into the ring.

“I just got caught,” Grant said. “Let’s not deny it. Lennox is champion for a reason.”

The reason quickly became obvious to Grant when he tried to take the fight to his opponent right from the opening bell.

Rather than facing the shorter Holyfield, the 6-5 Lewis was able to tee off on the 6-7 Grant, Lewis’ right uppercut finding Grant’s chin over and over.

It was a right uppercut followed by an overhand right to the top of the head that put Grant down for the first time with 1:15 remaining in the first round.

Grant got shakily to his feet, but he never seemed the same.

A series of overhand rights by Lewis sent Grant staggering against the ropes 32 seconds later. Referee Art Mercante Jr., waved Lewis to a neutral corner and gave Grant a standing eight-count.

Then, with only a few seconds remaining in the round, Grant went down again, this time from a powerful left-right combination.

“I was prepared,” Grant said, “but I took the wrong mentality into the ring. I came out charging and that was stupidity on my part. He dropped his hands and said, ‘Come after my head.’ I tried to take his head off.”

In his last fight, against Andrew Golota, Grant shook off two first-round knockdowns to come back and win on a 10th-round TKO.

But there would be no comebacks this night in front of the crowd of 17,249.

Lewis finished off Grant with a pile driver of a right uppercut that sent Grant back to the canvas in the closing seconds of the second round.

Grant dropped like a sack of potatoes and sprawled out, his head ricocheting off the surface of the ring, his right arm twitching from the force of the blow.

Afterward, it was announced that Lewis will next defend his two belts in London on July 15 against Francois Botha.

Lewis had to give up his WBA title, by order of a federal judge, for failing to honor an agreement he signed to defend against that organization’s No. 1-ranked contender, John Ruiz. But Lewis didn’t seem too concerned with the June 10 fight between Ruiz and Holyfield, a fight that is expected to be for the WBA crown.

“Whoever picks it up is just the paper champion,” Lewis said. “I’m still the undisputed champ.”

Lewis also had some words for those who have labeled him dull in his recent bouts. He had failed to win by knockout since March of 1998.

“I don’t think I should be judged by the two fights against Holyfield,” Lewis said. “He was in there to survive. He’s an old pro who knows what to do.

“I like the situation [of being criticized for lack of aggressiveness]. That way, people never know what to expect. But against Grant I definitely had a chance to show my aggressiveness.”

No argument there. And as long as Lewis continues to fight big, inexperienced fighters who come barreling in with a bull’s-eye on their chin, Lewis can be expected to remain aggressive and overpowering.