Golota must keep temper in check

Andrew Golota cast his eyes to the floor, shook his head, chuckled and said: "Don't bet money on it". The uncompromising Pole was, of course, responding to the obvious question: Can he control his anger and avoid assaulting Lennox Lewis's nether regions here on Saturday?

Even if Golota fails to relieve Lewis of the WBC heavyweight title, it is crucial to his ring career that he does not allow his emotions to be driven beyond the legal limit.

The 29-year-old challenger feels he has learned and suffered enough from the controversy of his two low-blow disqualifications against Riddick Bowe to keep his punches on the right side of Lewis's waistband.

To help curb his indiscretions, Golota has had specialised help from outside the boxing environment.

His promoter Dino Duva invested a four-figure sum to put his prize-fighter on the psychiatrist's couch after the second Bowe fight.

"We told him he needed help," said Duva. "He needed to see a sports psychiatrist to try teach him a programme not to make those same mistakes in the ring.

Golota added: "I don't worry that it might happen again.

"I was very disappointed after those Bowe fights. I used a lot of energy, desire and everything; it was terrible. I've learned from that - I guess I'm experienced now."

Golota, with biceps bulging like thighs, went about his work with a quiet, solid dedication in one of his final sparring sessions today.

At the end of the four rounds, he tried to inject a note of humour into the proceedings by tapping British sparring partner Derek Williams in the protective cup. Golota then wiped away the sweat of toil to look towards his night of destiny.

"Lewis is a very difficult opponent; he's tall, has a lot of strength, tough to fight. He's got a great right hand.

"But I have a will, a will to win. Lewis has a very similar style to Bowe, but I don't say he's any more difficult. He's stronger, I don't know about mentally, but certainly physically.

"I've been through this fight many times in my mind. I just have to win, but you never know what is going to happen in a heavyweight fight."

Former Comonwealth champion Williams, one-time sparring partner of Mike Tyson, has learned a lot about Golota in the build-up. He knows plenty, too, about Lewis, having been stopped by the WBC champion in 1992.

"Andrew can be prone to mood swings like Tyson. He'd come into the gym, greet me and say `Hi, champ'. But a couple of minutes later, he'd look at you as if you'd taken something from him," said Williams.

"Both have a lot of ammunition, but I think Lewis has the edge in punch power. I've never seen anybody jab like him. But when it comes to inside fighting, I lean to Andrew. It's a toss-up fight."