Retaining Title Not Lewis’ Only Concern

Heavyweight Lennox Lewis, the two-time World Boxing Council champion, will defend his title tonight against Andrew Golota, who hasn’t fought since being disqualified for low blows in consecutive fights against Riddick Bowe last year.

Lewis is 31-1 with 25 knockouts and needs a victory over Golota to set up a possible unification showdown early next year with the winner of November’s Evander Holyfield-Michael Moorer fight. Lewis and Golota each weighed 244 pounds.

Golota, 28-2 with 25 knockouts, is considered one of the top fighters in the heavyweight division, but has a history of fighting dirty. Aside from losing twice for hitting below the belt against Bowe, Golota once bit Samson Po’uha in a 1995 fight.

On the undercard, Gabriel Ruelas will take on Arturo Gatti for the International Boxing Federation junior-lightweight title. Ruelas, 44-3 with 23 knockouts, is a former WBC 130-pound champion. Gatti is 28-1 with 23 knockouts.

Former U.S. Olympian Fernando Vargas will face Alex Quiroga in a welterweight bout. A crowd of 14,000 is expected at the Atlantic City Convention Center.

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Tale of the Tape

Figures after the weigh-in Thursday for tonight’s (6 o’clock, pay-per-view) World Boxing Council heavyweight title fight between champion Lennox Lewis and challenger Andrew Golota:

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Lennox Lewis Andrew Golota Age 32 29 Weight 244 lbs. 244 lbs. Height 6 feet 5 6 feet 4 Reach 84 inches 81 inches Chest 44 inches 47 inches Chest (Exp.) 46 inches 51 inches Biceps 17 inches 18 inches Forearms 15 inches 12 inches Waist 34 inches 38 inches Thigh 26 inches 26 inches Calf 18 inches 16 inches Neck 18.5 inches 19 inches Wrist 8 inches 8 inches Fist 12 inches 12 inches

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