CLASS OF HIS OWN

Michael Grant says he wants to be heavyweight champion of the world.

But he doesn’t act like it.

Oh, Grant could pull off an upset Saturday night at Madison Square Garden and beat Lennox Lewis for the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation heavyweight titles.

But just because Grant wins the role of heavyweight champion doesn’t mean he knows how to play the part.

Grant does his fighting in the ring rather than the streets, hasn’t fathered any illegitimate children, doesn’t do drugs, hasn’t had a nervous breakdown in the ring, hasn’t bitten anybody’s ear off, doesn’t fight with his trainer, doesn’t get out of shape, doesn’t avoid the gym, doesn’t have a prison record and hasn’t been accused of domestic abuse.

He’s not arrogant, doesn’t like to boast and doesn’t believe in entourages.

Instead, Grant is religious, married his girlfriend because he felt they were living in sin, plays the piano and has been reading a book on Mark Twain.

We’ve known heavyweight champions, Michael Grant, and believe me, you are no heavyweight champion.

“I plan to stay humble,” said Grant (31-0), “and pray for strength to do my job. I’m not a freak for attention.

“I’m just a fighter so I’m not going to get caught up in it and do foolish things. I’m 6-7, so what do I need bodyguards for? What do I need a limo for? What I came into this world with is what I’m going to go out with.”

Grant’s resume is mirrored by that of his opponent. Lewis has also remained scandal free, offering the prospect of a refreshing new era for the heavyweight division.

Grant didn’t spend his formative years in the darkness of a shabby gym as did many of his peers who were trying to slug their way out of a bleak life. Instead, Grant grew to manhood as a three-sport star in football, baseball and basketball at Chicago’s William Rainy Harper High.

Boxing wasn’t even in the equation in those days.

Grant was too busy juggling offers from the Kansas City Royals (who wanted him to try out because of his 90-mph fastball) and Mt. San Antonio College (which wanted him to play defensive end and tight end).

Unhappy at Mt. San Antonio, Grant transferred to Southwest Junior College after a year, lured there by Keyshawn Johnson, who had taken a personal interest in Grant. From there, Grant went on to Cal State Fullerton, where he played basketball.

But still no boxing.

Finally, in 1992, at the age of 20, Grant went to Las Vegas with some friends to watch Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe battle for the heavyweight championship.

Grant walked out unimpressed. I could do that, he said. Presumably, his friends humored him.

But Grant was serious. He moved to Las Vegas and began an amateur career. He won the Las Vegas Golden Gloves tournament two years after first putting on gloves and then won the bronze medal at the National Golden Gloves.

Grant, making up for lost time, had only 12 amateur bouts, winning 11, before turning pro.

He was guided by referee Richard Steele to veteran trainer Don Turner. Turner has been around boxing all his life, first as a welterweight and middleweight, and then working with fighters, most notably Holyfield.

Turner has seen a lot of phenoms come and nearly as many go. So when Steele called and asked Turner to come to Las Vegas to train Grant, Turner wasn’t about to budge.

Let him come to me, Turner said.

That meant moving to Norristown, Pa. Grant didn’t hesitate.

That was a point in his favor with Turner.

“He was raw when I first saw him,” Turner said. “But he had potential. What I liked was that, even though he was so tall, he wasn’t awkward. He was very fluid, just a good athlete. He was able to throw good combinations, which is unusual for a big man.”

Chalk up another point for Grant.

But despite Grant’s talent, Turner wasn’t interested unless Grant had the right attitude.

“You think I’m going to mess with a guy and argue with him at this point in my life?” Turner said. “I’m 60 years old. What do I need to argue with someone? I don’t go along to get along. Most kids now do what they want to do. This kid adjusted to what I wanted him to do.”

Another point for Grant.

Early in his relationship with Turner, Grant was offered the chance to switch to Kevin Rooney, who had trained Mike Tyson. Instead, Grant stuck with Turner.

Give him another point.

And by that point, the Grant-Turner relationship was as solid as Grant’s trademark overhand right.

He began his pro career in July 1994 with a first-round TKO of Ernest English.

Grant fought 23 opponents before he faced one--Lionel Butler--someone other than a true boxing aficionado had even heard of.

Grant beat Butler on a disqualification, beat Jorge Luis Gonzalez in 1997 to win the heavyweight championship of the little-known, little-regarded International Boxing Council, and then won the North American Boxing Federation heavyweight crown on a 10th-round TKO of Ahmad Abdin in January of last year.

In November, in his 31st fight, Grant faced his first big-name opponent in Andrew Golota.

And, for a few disastrous moments for Grant, it looked as if it might be his last big-name opponent.

Golota knocked Grant down twice in the first round. But Grant got up, hung on, cleared his head, steadied his feet, regained his composure and, in the 10th round, dropped Golota. Golota also got up, but the fight was stopped, giving Grant his 22nd knockout and 31st victory.

“Michael walked right into the punch,” Turner said of the first knockdown by Golota. “He was out of it for about four rounds, but he showed in that fight that he had the courage and intestinal fortitude to get up. He was not the first to get knocked down, [but] only the great ones get up.”

And now comes an even bigger test in Lewis.

Does Grant feel any anxiety over Saturday’s fight?

“At this point,” he said, “you get up with a smile on your face and see the flowers blooming. If you feel anything but joy over this, shame on you.”

He doesn’t even talk like a heavyweight.

Boxing notes

Grant weighed in at 250 pounds for Saturday night’s fight, Lewis at 247. . . . A minor dispute over the brand of gloves to be used was resolved when Grant, after trying on 22 pairs, found one that fit him.

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Big Fights

Biggest weight totals for heavyweight title fights:

1. 497: Michael Grant, 250, vs. Lennox Lewis, 247, bout Saturday.

2. 488 3/4: Primo Carnera, 259 1/2, vs. Paulino Uzcudun, 229 1/4, Oct. 22, 1933. Winner: Carnera by decision in 15.

3. 488: Lennox Lewis, 251, vs. Oliver McCall, 237, Feb. 7, 1997. Winner: Lewis TKO 5.

4. 488: Lennox Lewis, 244, vs. Andrew Golota, 244, Oct. 4, 1997. Winner: Lewis TKO 1.

5. 487: Michael Dokes, 244, vs. Riddick Bowe, 243, Feb. 6, 1993. Winner: Bowe TKO 1.

6. 479: Lennox Lewis, 242, vs. Henry Akinwande, 237, July 12, 1997. Winner: Lewis DQ 5.

7. 477: George Foreman, 256, vs. Axel Schulz, 221, April. 22, 1995. Winner: Foreman by decision in 12.

8. 472 3/4: Primo Carnera, 263 1/4, vs. Max Baer, 209 1/2, June 14, 1934. Winner: Baer TKO 11.

9. 472: George Foreman, 250, vs. Michael Moorer, 222, Nov. 5, 1994. Winner: Foreman KO 10.

10. 471: Tony Tubbs, 244, vs. Tim Witherspoon, 227, Jan. 17, 1986. Winner: Witherspoon by decision in 15.

10. 471: Lennox Lewis, 243, vs. Shannon Briggs, 228, March 28, 1998. Winner: Lewis TKO 5.

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Lewis vs. Grant

Saturday

6 p.m.

Pay per view

Tale of the Tape

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GRANT LEWIS 27 Age 34 250 Weight 247 6-7 Height 6-5 86 Reach 84 18 Biceps 17 47 Chest (normal) 44 51 Chest (expand) 46 12 Forearm 15 26 Thigh 26 16 Calf 18 19 Neck 18 1/2 8 Wrist 8

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