Lewis wraps it up in 95 seconds flat

“Basically I wanted to go out and make my statement to the world that I am the best heavyweight and I wanted to intimidate everyone else,” Lewis said. “I wanted to go out and prove myself, not worry about him.”

The rout sent a message to Lewis’ likely foe, the winner of next month’s battle between rival champions Evander Holyfield and Michael Moorer. Lewis intends to become the next unified champion.

“I want to consolidate all the belts and keep them all for myself,” Lewis said. “I want to get rid of all the misfits and this was the last misfit.”

Lewis won his previous two fights when Oliver McCall broke down crying in the ring and Henry Akinwande was disqualified for holding. Golota had lost his two earlier bouts for hitting Riddick Bowe in the groin.

“I didn’t want to give him the chance to do anything dirty,” Lewis said. “I wasn’t worried about what he was going to do. I just had to do my job.” Golota said extensive talks about his low blows added to the pressure of his first title fight and distracted him.

“I was under a little pressure, and too nervous,” Golota said. “A lot of things happened in the past. Everybody talked about it a little too much. I can’t make excuses. I lost the fight. What can I do?”

Nothing. Lewis gave him no chance. From the start, Lewis was aggressive. He sent Golota to the canvas twice, the first time with a pair of hard right hands. The second was with a punishing series of lefts and right that forced Golotta to the mat, covering up as he slumped to the ground.

“I noticed in the beginning he was tentative with his punches,” Lewis said. “When I hit him, I knew it was the end. I took my time.”

A sellout crowd of 13,889 mostly cheered for Golota, but Lewis left no doubts as to his ability.

“I said it in the beginning – he’s the best fighter I ever saw,” said Lewis’ trainer, Emanuel Steward. “And he’s going back to his old days when he was a very aggressive fighter. He’s a very accurate puncher.”