DETROIT -- Someday, someone will say or do something that sends Lennox Lewis into a rage. The next day, we will do lunch with the men and women of Mars.
Even when he gets hit in the ring, Lewis said, "I just roll with the punches and come right back."Lewis' seeming lack of aggressiveness has left him dogged by doubters, although he won the undisputed heavyweight title from Evander Holyfield in November. Some remain convinced that Lewis didn't do enough in his victory by decision to take the WBA, WBC and IBF titles.
But here is low-key, laid-back Lewis -- first British-born undisputed heavyweight king since 1897 -- in a title fight on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden against unbeaten Michael Grant.
How good is Grant, 27, whose only career loss was to Detroiter Derrick Jefferson as an amateur?
"Well, I don't believe that he's better than me," said Lewis, 34. "I think he's the biggest and best available Mike at the moment. He definitely deserves a chance.
"As far as how good is he, I can't really tell until I step into the ring against him."
The Mike most on Lewis' mind appears to be Tyson, whose fighting future continues in perpetual doubt.
"OK, this is the only Mike Tyson question I'm going to answer," Lewis said. "All I'm thinking about is Michael Grant. But eventually, I'm sure the public would love to see me and Mike Tyson fight together."
Lewis and Grant will be fighting for the WBC and IBF titles, but not the WBA. A federal judge ruled that the WBA could take its title from Lewis after he wouldn't agree to fight top WBA contender John Ruiz -- whom Lewis calls "Johnny Louise."
Though Grant is considered a more deserving challenger, he will enter the ring as a decided underdog. He's ranked No. 5 by the WBA, second by the WBC and IBF. At least by physical stature, the fight's "Two Big" marketing tag rings true. Lewis, who is 6-feet-5, weighed in Thursday at 247 pounds, three less than 6-7 Grant.
Their combined weight is the heaviest ever for a title fight.