Heavyweight boxing's tarnished reputation will take another body blow in Atlantic City if Andrew Golota follows his recent form by hurling punches into the groin of WBC champion Lennox Lewis when the two meet in the charged atmosphere of the Convention Centre on the Boardwalk tonight.
While Lewis searches for an explosive victory to add weight to his belief that he is truly the best and convince a sceptical American public in the process, administrators are aware that the sport will be dragged closer to oblivion if it has to endure another bout of shame. Twice last year Golota was disqualified for throwing low blows during non-title contests with Riddick Bowe and boxing still shudders at the memory of Mike Tyson's misdemeanours.
New Jersey boxing commissioner, Larry Hazzard junior, admits he is praying there is no repetition. "We've got a lot on the line," he said. "And all of us have a lot to lose in the sport we love so dearly. You could say controversy comes with the turf. If we can all come through, we can gain some credit. If not, we'll be trashed to the bitter end."
New York referee Joe Cortez is the man given the task of trying to maintain order in a fight some fear will degenerate into mayhem. An experienced official with more than 60 world title contests behind him dating back to 1982, he is "going to be fair" according to Hazzard, who adds: "He will come into this bearing no grudges. But if Golota breaks the rules, then Joe Cortez is prepared to do what he should do in any fight. He has the guts and intestinal fortitude to penalise where necessary and he has the guts to disqualify if it comes to that.
"Of course, he's under pressure, but so are the fighters. They must understand what is as stake. They owe it to their fellow professionals and the public."
Lewis has warned he is in no mood to be messed around after the farcical outcome of his last two contests when Oliver McCall was stopped after bursting into tears in the ring and Henry Akinwande suffered a disqualification for persistent holding. "I am fed up of it. I train to fight," said the champion, "and Golota is definitely not going to make his name with Lennox Lewis. I want to stay in the rules, but if a guy's dirty with me I am not going to take it sitting down."
A popular theory suggests Golota is a bully incapable of taking physical or mental pressure. Lewis's trainer Emmanuel Steward fears the worst. "I'm not confident he will fight properly. He cannot control what he does. Whenever he is in any sort of distress, he resorts to dirty tactics. There is a good possibility he will snap, throw low blows and throw the fight."
Despite his temperamental shortcomings, Golota is a boxer of considerable ability and showed himself to be technically superior to former champion Riddick Bowe, who is expected to be among the capacity 15,500 crowd.
Lewis would be foolish to underestimate his talent and, in Steward's words: "The only thing I am concerned about is that Lennox gets out there and imposes himself immediately. I don't believe Golota will stand up once he gets hit on the chin.
"Lennox should be too big and too strong and I believe he will win by knock-out - but only if he fights his fight."
Golota is unbeaten apart from the setbacks against Bowe, and the upright, typically East-European style of his amateur career has been transformed under the instruction of a training team headed by 75-year-old Lou Duva.
In the final week of preparations, Lewis has appeared composed and serenely confident, in marked contrast to the nervy Golota, boasting that he will physically intimidate his challenger and prove too fast and powerful. "I want to show that I am the best heavyweight on the planet," he says with genuine conviction. Time will tell whether or not his words are misplaced, but he should have the ability to retain his title here with a stoppage victory sometime after round six.
No odds are being given on yet another Golota disqualification. A shame, because in this tatty gambling capital of the East Coast, that just may be the best bet in town.
