Deep in the heart of a proud fighting man lurks a truth Lennox Lewis finds difficult to confront in public, but one which has driven him through his two-month stay in training camp to a level of fitness and confidence which bodes ill for Evander Holyfield when the two meet in their heavyweight title rematch in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Despite the kerfuffle after the Madison Square Garden confrontation in March ended in a draw, Lewis knows the person who cost him his title was the 6 ft 5 in figure he sees in the mirror every morning. He had his chance, and he blew it.

Those close to the World Boxing Council champion say Lewis now accepts that he had the chances to put the first fight beyond any dispute and he will be trying to end this fight in explosive fashion.

"Last time he was nervous because of Evander's record and reputation. But now he has felt Holyfield's power and he knows he can do it. He has to get in and dominate behind his jab. Then, when the chance comes, jump on him; nail him, and use all his strength because eventually Evander will not be able to take it," says the television commentator Glenn McCrory.

Lewis smiles at the suggestion that he was expecting something from Holyfield in the first fight which never materialised. "Yes, it's true," he agrees a little ruefully, conceding that reputation promised a more threatening and dangerous opponent than the reality of the Holyfield who was in front of him in the ring.

Again and again Lewis has watched the video of their first meeting and now says: "There are a lot of things that I could have done and should have done."

Lewis' trainer, Emanuel Steward, has made much of what he perceives as a change in Holyfield's attitude, saying he has seen fear in the eyes of the 37-year-old World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation champion. But Holyfield seemed anything but fearful as he worked out in the Las Vegas Hilton.

A chiselled physique provides ample evidence that Holyfield has trained long and hard. Eight months ago, Holyfield's religious beliefs and insistence that God had revealed he would achieve a third-round knockout, may have impressed some of religious persuasion, but many thought Holyfield's claims were those of an arrogant and deluded fighter.

Now there are no predictions or brash statements designed to rubbish his opponent and, according to his trainer, Don Turner, Holyfield has also achieved a level of fitness far beyond that which he took into the ring in New York.

"Evander was embarrassed at his performance. But any athlete can have an off-day in any sport and that was his. This time, he has to find a way of getting past Lennox's left hand." says Turner.

Holyfield says Lewis fought a clever fight in March, but clearly doubts his opponent's will to radically change his tactics, saying: "You are who you are. He can say things, and threaten things, but it's all speculation."